Mr. Talarico
Famous Native American Speeches
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Famous Native American Speeches
Source: American Rhetoric, Online Speech Bank
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/nativeamericans/chiefcanasatego.htm
Speech #1:
Onondaga Chief Canasatego
On Colonizing Education
delivered in 1744, Pennsylvania on behalf of the Iroquois Confederacy of Nations
We know you highly esteem the kind of learning taught in these colleges. And the maintenance
of our young men, while with you, would very expensive to you. We're convinced, therefore,
that you mean to do us good by your proposal, and we thank you heartily. But you who are so
wise must know that different nations have different conceptions of things. And you will not,
therefore, take it amiss if our ideas of this kind of education happens not to be the same with
yours.
We have had some experience of it. Several of our young people were formerly brought up in the
colleges of the northern province. They were instructed in all your sciences. But when they came
back to us, they were bad runners, ignorant of every means of living in the woods, unable to bear
either cold or hunger, knew neither how to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy, spoke our
language imperfectly, and therefore were neither fit for hunters, warriors, nor councilors. They
were totally good for nothing.
We are, however, not the less obliged for your kind offer, though we decline accepting. To show
our grateful sense of it, if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would
take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them.
Speech #2: Mingo Chief Logan
"Logan's Lament"
delivered in 1774, [Point Pleasant] Ohio Territory
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Mr. Talarico
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I appeal to any white man to say if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not
meat; if he ever came cold and naked and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long
and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace.
Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as I passed, and said, "Logan is a
friend of the white man." I have even thought to live with you but for the injuries of one man,
Colonel Cresap, who last spring in cold blood and unprovoked murdered the relatives of Logan,
not even sparing his wife and children.
There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This has called on me for
revenge. I have sought it; I have killed many; I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country,
I rejoice in the beams of peace.
But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on
his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one.
Speech #3: Chief Powhatan
Address to Captain John Smith
delivered in 1609
I am now grown old and must soon die, and the succession must descend in order, to my
brothers, Opitchapam, Opechancanough, and Kekataugh, and then to my two sisters, and their
two daughters.
I wish their experience was equal to mine, and that your love to us might not be not be less than
ours to you. Why should you take by force that from us which you can have by love? Why
should you destroy us who have provided you with food? What can you get by war? We can hide
our provisions and fly into the woods. And then you must consequently famish by wrongdoing
your friends.
What is the cause of your jealousy? You see us unarmed and willing to supply your wants if you
come in a friendly manner; not with swords and guns as to invade an enemy. I am not so simple
as not to know that it is better to eat good meat, lie well, and sleep quietly with my women and
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children; to laugh and be merry with the English, and, being their friend, to have copper,
hatchets, and whatever else I want then to fly from all, to lie cold in the woods, feed upon acorns,
roots and such trash, and to be so hunted that I cannot rest, eat, or sleep. In such circumstances,
my men must watch, and if a twig should but break, all would cry out, "Here comes Captain
Smith." And so, in this miserable manner to end my miserable life. And, Captain Smith, this
might soon be your fate too through your rashness and unadvisedness.
I, therefore, exhort you to peaceable councils, and above all I insist that the guns and swords, the
cause of all our jealousy and uneasiness, be removed and sent away.
Speech #4: Creek Chief Red Eagle
Address to General Andrew Jackson
delivered in 1814, at Fort Jackson, in what is now Alabama
General Jackson, I am not afraid of you. I fear no man, for I am a Creek warrior. I have nothing
to request in behalf of myself; you can kill me, if you desire. But I come to beg you to send for
the women and children of the war party who are now starving in the woods. Their fields and
cribs have been destroyed by your people, who have driven them to the woods without an ear of
corn. I hope that you will send out parties who will safely conduct them here in order that they
may be fed. I exerted myself in vain to prevent the massacre of the women and children at Fort
Mims. I am now done fighting. The Red Sticks are nearly all killed.
I have done the white people all the harm I could. I have fought them, and fought them bravely.
If I had an army I would yet fight, and contend to the last. But I have none. My people are all
gone. I can now do no more than weep over the misfortunes of my Nation.
There was a time when I had a choice and could have answered you; I have none now. Even
hope has ended. Once I could animate my warriors to battle, but I cannot animate the dead. My
warriors can no longer hear my voice. Their bones are at Talladega, Tallashatchie, Emunckfow
and Tohopeka. If I had been left to contend with the Georgia Army, I would have raised corn on
one bank of the river and fought them on the other. But your people have destroyed my Nation. I
rely on your generosity.
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