The world of Chief Seattle : how can one sell the air?

This story of Chief Seattle and his tribe, the Suquamish, gives readers a much better understanding of the great Chief who had the city of Seattle named after him. Renowned today for an eloquent speech given during treaty negotiations with the U.S. government, this book puts the Seattle's life into the context of his time and gives a brief history of the region and its many tribes, especially the Suquamish. Included is the complete speech as recorded by Dr. Henry Smith and recognized by the Elders of the tribe to be the most accurate account of the speech. Also included is a look at the Suquamish today, along with many rare 19th and 20th century photographs of village life dispersed throughout the book .

Chief Seattle is renowned for an eloquent speech, commonly referred to as How Can One Sell the Air?, given during 1854 treaty negotiations with the U.S. government. This speech is testimony of a people of intelligence and sensitivity. Here is an accurate portrait of the tribes of the Puget Sound area during Seattle's times, with particular emphasis on Chief Seattle's tribe, the Suquamish. The author interviewed Suquamish elders and was granted access to the tribal archives, which supplied many of the rare, turn-of-the-century photographs of village life. Also included is the first written version of the speech as well as the popularized 20th century adaptation.

Statesman Journal - Dan Hays

Here's a different idea for historians: If you are going to write about native peoples, make certain your research includes a knowledge of their history as they understand and value it themselves.

That's what Warren Jefferson did when; he set out to write his brief history of Chief Seattle of the Suquamish. In fact, his insistence on cultural truth extends to letting the readers know how to contact the Suquamish today.

That devotion to actual truth may be why this brief book contains such complete and powerful information. Chief Seattle is known today primarily for a speech he may never have given. Even if he did give it, he would be surprised at how it has been interpreted. Jefferson lets us into the true meaning of that speech by helping us understand its context: the peoples of the area, their history and their situation at the time. He does it through lucid, informative text and a compelling selection of historical photographs.

The book isn't as complex or thorough as Albert Furtwangler's 1998 "Answering Chief Seattle," which remains the definitive work on the speech itself. But it is a highly accessible, enjoyable and informative account. In effect, Jefferson gives Seattle back his dignity and strength.

Chief Seattle, in his youth a great war chief, became an advocate for peace and friendship with the white settlers of Puget Sound, Washington. He is renowned today for an eloquent speech given in 1854 during treaty negotiations with the U.S. government in which he expressed a hope for peaceful coexistence and advocated respect for the environment. "The World of Chief Seattle" puts Chief Seattles life into the context of his time and gives a brief history of the region and its people, with particular emphasis on Chief Seattles tribe, the Suquamish. It includes the two best known versions of Chief Seattles speech and stories from the Suquamish themselves. Inserted as side bars through out the book are excerpts from interviews given by tribal elders talking about their lives on the reservation when they were children, their culture, and historical events. As part of the research for this book Warren traveled to Suquamish land three times. While there he visited historical sites including the site where Chief Seattle lived for many years and where he died. He spent two days interviewing the tribal historian Marilyn Jones and allowed access to much of their tribal archives. "The World of Chief Seattle" was written in cooperation with Chief Seattle's tribe and they receive a portion of the royalties. Includes Chief Seattle's complete speech, with many rare 19th and early 20th century photographs of village life. Fifty photos, illustrations, maps Chief Seattle, in his youth, a great war Chief, became an advocate for peace and friendship with the white settlers. He is renowned today for an eloquent speech given during treaty negotiations with the US government in which he expressed a hope for peaceful coexistence and respect for the environment. This book gives a brief history of the region and its many tribes, with particular emphasis on Chief Seattles tribe, the Suquamish, with a short update of its life today. Includes the complete speech and many rare nineteenth- and twentieth-century photographs of village life. Chief Seattle gave his now famous speech in 1854 during treaty negotiations with the U.S. government, which was intent on forcing the Native people of Washington's Puget Sound onto reservations. This book puts Chief Seattle's life into the context of his time and gives a brief history of the region and its many tribes, with particular emphasis on Chief Seattle's tribe, the Suquamish