Red Jacket
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Red Jacket (known as Otetiani in his youth and Sagoyewatha [Keeper Awake] Sa-go-ye-wa-tha as an adult because of his oratorical skills) (c. 1750–January 20, 1830) was a Seneca orator and chief of the Wolf clan, based in western New York.
Sagu-yu-what-hah (Red Jacket) Addresses Christian Missionaries, 1805
"Friend and Brother--It was the will of the great Spirit, that we should meet together this day, He orders all things, and has given us a fine day for our council. He has taken his garment from before the sun, and caused it to shine with brightness upon us. Our eyes are opened, that we see clearly; our ears are unstopped, that we have been able to hear distinctly the words you have spoken. For all these favours we thank the great Spirit, and Him only.
"Brother--This council fire was kindled by you. It was your request that we came together at this time. We have listened with attention to what you have said. You requested us to speak our minds freely. This gives us great joy; for we now consider that we stand upright before you, and can speak what we think. All but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us.
"Brother--Continue to listen.
"You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the great Spirit agreeably to his mind, and, if we do not take hold of the religion which you and the white people teach, we shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right and we are lost. How do we know this to be true. We understand that your religion is written in a book. If it was intended for us as well as you, why has not the great Spirit given to us, and not only to us, but why did he not give to our forefathers, the knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it rightly? We only know when you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white people?
"Brother--You say there is but one way to worship and serve the great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agree, as you can all read the book?
"Brother--We do not understand these things.
"We are told that your religion was given to your forefathers, and has been handed down from father to son. We also have a religion, which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us, their children. We worship in that way. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favours we receive; to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about our religion.
"Brother--The great Spirit has made us all, but he has made a great distance between his white and red children. He has given us different complexions and different customs. To you he has given the arts. To these he has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true. Since he has made so great a difference between us in other things, why may we not conclude that he has given us a different religion, according to our understanding? The great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for his children; we are satisfied.
"Brother--We are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with then. We will wait a little while, and see what effect your speaking has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest, and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.
"Brother--You have now heard our answer to your talk, and this is all we have to say at present."
