RhetoricNative American

SpeechesBy:

Nathan Moran, Jill Sumner, and Jordan Verbinnen

“This Sacred Soil”

- Chief Seattle (1854)

“This Sacred Soil”

Historical Background/Summary:• Hereditary leader of the Suquamish Tribe• Speech in response to the purchasing of Native

American land by the U.S. • Directed towards President Franklin Pierce• Relationship between people and earth• Denies the selling of the land

Rhetorical Devices• Personification

• “Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people”

• Hyperbole• “His brave warriors will be to us a bristling wall of

strength”

• Kenning• “paleface” “Red Men”

Appeals• Ethos

• “My words are like the stars that never change. Whatever Seattle says, the great chief at Washington can rely upon with as much certainty as he can upon the return of the sun or the seasons.” -Chief Seattle

• Pathos • “Grim fate seems to be on the Red Man’s trail.”• “The white man will never be alone.”• “The white man’s God cannot love our people.”

• Logos• “Day and night can not dwell together.”

SPAMSpeaker Chief Seattle

- The Indian Chief Speaking about the oppression of his people

- Represents the Indian society as a whole- The natives are being pushed off of their land by the settlers

unfairly

Purpose- White Men consider themselves as “brothers” with the

natives- the Indians are pushed off of their land and killed by the

settlers unfairly- Wonders why God is punishing them- Pathos and Ethos

Audience The White American Generals and their troopsMedium Speech (Outside venue)

“I Will Fight No More”- Chief Joseph

(1877)

“I Will Fight No More Forever”

Historical Background/Summary:• Surrender Speech after the Battle of the Bear Paw

Mountains• The Nez Perce people were driven from their lands into

Canada by U.S. soldiers• Chief Joseph was tired of seeing his people killed,

scared, and living in poverty• Fed up with the U.S. attacking his people• Lists reasons for exhaustion and surrendering

Rhetorical Devices• Epistrophe

• “Looking Glass is dead. Toohulhulsote is dead. The old men are all dead.”

• Personification• “My heart is sad and sick. From where the sun now

stands”

• Paradox (Oxymoron)• “I will fight no more forever” (title)• It is the young men who say no and yes

Appeals• Ethos

A chief is speaking so he has rank

• Pathos • “The little children are freezing to death.”• “I want to have time to look for my children.”• “Maybe I shall find them among the dead.”

• Logos• “My heart is sad and sick.”

SPAMSpeaker Chief Joseph- Native American chief- Cares about his people and his society

Purpose- Surrendering speech- Sympathizer to the American Settlers- Expresses his feelings of the brutality of his people

Audience The “White Men” a.k.a. American SettlersMedium Speech (Outside venue)

- the speech was also presented in a letter form- eventually the speech was published in a U.S.

magazine

Class Themes

• American Voice• The Indians speak out against the American

government

• Relationship of Nature and Mankind• Early Encounters of America

Quiz(Hint: Chief Seattle- “Sacred Soil”, Chief Joseph- “I Will Fight No More Forever”)

1. What, historically, is going on during the time of the speeches? (What is happening to the Native Americans?)

2. How does the time period affect what the Native Americans are talking about?

3. How does Chief Seattle feel toward the white man’s good?

4. Chief Seattle uses many similes; explain how they help his speech be more effective.

5. Chief Joseph uses epistrophe; how does it affect the speech?