The Chief Seattle speech: an authentic indigenous American
history or a symbolized fabulation?

Sammanfattning: Chief Seattle is believed to have orated an environmentally loaded statement
which has become celebrated, above all, within the industrialized world. The
transcript of this philosophical statement started to surface during the
early 1970’s, and has been cited, distributed, mentioned and mistrusted by
individuals and organizations of all social-levels.

This essay explores the site at which the speech is situated, evaluates
different known versions of the speech and analyses its symbolism. It aims
to clarify the circumstances surrounding the Chief Seattle speech and verify
the authenticity of the speech.

The origin of Chief Seattle’s words has been analysed by numerous
individuals. The views of Rudolf Kaiser and Albert Furtwangler, two scholars
who have researched and documented the speech, clarify much. This essay
combines their work and does further research into Chief Seattle’s past. As
a result an improved impression of the circumstances surrounding the speech
will be presented.