Topic

The topic of the speech “Selling Our Land” attributed to Chief Seattle is the prospect of Native Americans selling their land to white settlers. However, at a deeper level, the speech is about communion with nature, environmental responsibility, and respect for Native American cultu…

...

Environmental responsibility

The speaker explores environmental responsibility when he argues that white men have no respect for the earth and its resources, depleting them thoughtlessly: “he is a stranger who comes in the night and takes from the land whatever he needs. The Earth is not his brother, but his enemy and when he has conquered it, he moves on.” (ll. 6-9); “…t…

...

Native American culture

The speaker discusses the fact that white men do not understand Native American culture and need to learn to respect it: “We know that the white man does not understand our ways.” (l. 5)

To emphasize the importance of respecting Native American culture, the speaker uses the imperative “must”: “But if we sell you our land, you mu…

...

Argumentation

Although the speaker uses a lot of metaphorical language, he uses direct argumentation throughout the speech. This means that the speaker is very straightforward about his views.

For example, from the first lines, the speaker openly claims that white men disrespect nature and do not understand Native American culture: “We know that the white man does not understand our ways. One portion of land is the same to him as the next…” (ll. 5-6)

Chief Seattle is also very upfront about the way Native Americans relate to nature:…