Along with the medicine and lessons that we receive from our Native American Totems from the animal, mineral, and plant kingdoms; we can also be blessed by the totems or lessons from our ancestors or the people who came before us. Chief Seattle is one of those remarkable men who taught while he was on Mother Earth and continues to teach today with his wisdom.
He once said, “Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”
As we walk on our Sacred Path it is important to take heed of Chief Seattle’s words. The actions we make each day not only effects us but those around us. Each one of us can do good for the web of life or we can do harm. We can spread positive energy throughout or we can spread negative across the many strands. Our choices make a difference for today and for generations to come.
Chief Seattle of the Duwamish tribe saw his world through many changes. As a young boy he watched as the Europeans first came to his peoples lands. He was an incredible leader of his people, an excellent orator, and his keen senses allowed him to see what the white settlers really had in mind. He worked with the Europeans to try to get what was best for his people as the influx of settlers began to take the land away from the tribes in the area of Puget Sound.
His choices made a difference for his people at the time. Although, it would have been better if they didn’t have to give up any lands, Chief Seattle realized the inevitability of what was coming and negotiated a little better treatment for those he was responsible for. He worked with what he had before him and tried to make it the most positive result. Although, forced to figure out the lesser of two evils; I believe he chose the best course of action he had at the time.
As you progress into the following days, remember the wisdom of Chief Seattle…we are but a single strand in the web of life…our actions make a difference for the whole of the web.
~Mitakuye Oyasin~ We are all related