(in response to the colonist desire for washington territory)

• american colonists want Washington territory and are willing to pay for it

• emphasizes how strong and plentiful his (Chief Seattle's) people and other natives had been prior to the settlers arrival

• strong sense of defeat in his writing, with hope for "peace" between the natives and the settlers despite the horrible doings of the now "american people"→ while the young might be angry, the older people of the tribes know it's not worth trying to fight the change any longer in fear of losing what they have left

• despite the claims that the europeans will protect and unite with the natives, Chief Seattle knows too well that if the european God doesn't love them, any sort of unitiy is simply a lie to gain land and power

  → despite the religion the settlers claim to have, their actions show no signs of love or care. they leave behind tradition and ancestors for power. while the fall of the native people may be near, the fall of the colonial american people will come one day and it will be dark and horrendous. There is no escape in the end.

"the indian's night promises to be dark."

natives will consider the colonists proposition, but only under the condition they have the freedom to visit their ancestors and lost friends and family. the land is sacred and respects their people much more than the settlers. Once the entirety of Chief Seattle's people perish, the white man will never feel a sense of security in being alone. His people will return and cherish the land as they may once did in their past life. there is no "dead" in the eyes of the chief, but only change. his people will return.