Chief Seattle was born about 1786. His name was originally spelled See-Yahtlh by the Indians. His father was a noted headman and war leader. But his mother was a slave, so he was considered of low birth. About the time of his birth, the Puget Sound area was hit hard by smallpox, a white man's disease that came to them before they'd even seen a white man. Also at that time they saw the white man's great ships off shore. These Indians took these things as a sign that the prophecy of the end of the world was eminent.

In 1792, Captain Vancouver's ship Discovery visited the natives to trade. This event left a lasting impression on the eight year old future chief. He began to greatly appreciate western technology, especially firearms. The respect for firearms grew from recent raids. After 1800, tribes to the north of the Suquamish tribe raided them frequently to capture women and children to increase the size of their families. The Yakama tribe to the east of the Cascades also raided the Puget Sound area, taking captives and selling them to small tribes on the lower Columbia. Kitsap, a Suquamish leader, led a raiding party to Vancouver Island to put down the Cowiche peoples, ending further disturbance by the Cowiches. Seattle took part in this battle and fared well.

By the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805-06, the battles among the Puget Sound peoples were well under way. Seattle led a group that killed a raiding party of Green River and White River people. One of his methods of dealing with his enemies was very clever. He knew most attacks came at night and that the attackers traveled on the river. So he chopped down a tree so it fell just a few inches above the water. Unsuspecting raiders would collide into it. While they were busy rescuing the canoe and their equipment, Seattle's men would attack from shore. After this successful raid, he assumed the name See-yahtlh, the name of his father's father, at a potlatch ceremony.

He became chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes shortly after his victory over the Green River tribes. He was widely respected among the Indians for leading successful attacks on Puget Sound tribes. About 1811, his first child was born, known by the settlers as Princess Angeline. Seattle was known to have owned eight slaves, and some of them may have been concubines.

In 1832, the Hudson's Bay Company began building a trading post at Nisqually Prairie. The Suquamish were active traders and Seattle was quick to take advantage of the situation. At the same time, whites were concerned about Christianizing the Indians. At this time several hundred Indians were baptized, and Chief Seattle was one of them. His baptismal name was Noah. The village headmen were then charged with bringing about reforms in their own villages, setting up chapels, and instructing people. Chief Seattle established morning and evening prayer and instructional teachers. His conversion seemed sincere but it was also an advantage to him. It strengthened his relationship with the whites, who were his main trading partners.

He took part in several raids. In 1841 at 55 years old. He led an attack upon the winter village of ee-lahl-ko at the confluence of the upper Green and White rivers. He is also said to have led an attack on a Chemakum stronghold near Port Townsend. Chief Seattle is said to have participated in more raids than any other chief in the Puget Sound region.

In 1850, the Ebey-Shaw party had reached Elliot Bay and were welcomed by Chief Seattle and his band. Seattle wanted to trade with the whites. He talked Dr. David Maynard, an Indian agent and trader, into establishing a store near his people at Alki Point. Maynard agreed. This is when Maynard renamed the city after Chief Seattle. Chief Seattle had invited Maynard to the town site established by Arthur Denny, which he had named Duwamps, in honor of the Duwamish tribe. Maynard's successful enterprise prompted him to change the name to Seattle. Chief Seattle wasn't happy with this tribute, since his culture forbid use of a person's name while they were still alive. But Seattle received money and more influence as a result so his displeasure lessened somewhat.

On January 10, 1854, territorial governor Isaac Stevens arrived at Seattle to try to get the Suquamish and Duwamish to move to a reservation. Chief Seattle was there. In a long speech, he recommended that the Indians go to the reservation, but he wanted to reserve the right to visit burial places whenever they wanted. A treaty was signed in which those who signed promised not to engage in revenge murder. Chief Seattle was one of those who signed. At the time, Chief Seattle was troubled that white men gave more weight to a document with a signature than in believing his word.

By this time he was becoming more respected for his diplomacy than for his war skills. Stevens appointed Chief Seattle as the representative for both tribes. Unfortunately, the Duwamish didn't recognize this. So Seattle got the reservation for the Suquamish and the Duwamish got nothing.

From then on, Chief Seattle tried to get white men to uphold their agreement. But it was an economically hard time. The Fraser River gold rush of 1858-59 was the only high spot until after the Civil War. He was always sensitive to the wishes of American and British authorities. He freed his own slaves after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Chief Seattle acted as judge at tribal councils. He eventually found this to be futile since his people kept declining due to disease, alcohol, and poverty. He petitioned the Indian agents for the needs of the tribe.

At his last potlatch in 1862 he gave away what few things he had: old clothes, a horseshoe, a muleshoe, fishhook, gunny sacks, tin cans, boxes, food, and knickknacks. He spent his time leading prayers or petitioning the reservation agent for the people's needs. He also acted as a judge in tribal councils. He generally wore old pants, a shirt, and a Hudson's Bay blanket. On special occasions he wore a frock coat and a stovepipe hat.

He died on June 7, 1866. His funeral was attended by a large number of Indians and sympathetic white men. The letters I.H.S. were later inscribed on his tombstone. They stand for the Latin "in hoc spiritus," which means "I have suffered."

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2001