Foundations of Human Activity

I'm dedicating this third blog to the man who Seattle was named after, Chief Si'hal. ("Seattle" is an anglicized version of the name "Si'hal".)

Chief Si'hal was born around 1790 near Blake Island. The descendent of a mother who was of the Duwamish tribe and a father who was chief of the Suqaumish tribe, Si'hal inherited his chief status from his uncle on his mother's side. Even though a Duwamish chief, he was revered by both the Suqaumish and Duwamish tribes for his leadership and courage in batttle. He also was an intermediary for the tribes once white settlers began taking over the land that is now Washington state. Si'hal negotiated with David Swinson "Doc" Maynard over the rights of his people and kept things between the white settlers and the two tribes peaceful.

Si'hal is best known for the famous speech (a speech which is a bit clouded in controversy) he gave regarding the moral and environment implications of Native American displacement and land rights. Below is a link to the speech Si'hal is supposed to have recited in his native Lushootseed language in what is now downtowm Seattle in December of 1954.

http://www.chiefseattle.net/history/chiefseattle/speech/speech.htm

references:

http://www.chiefseattle.net/history/chiefseattle/chief.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Seattle