Sagoyewatha
Red Jacket
Red Jacket Defends Native American Religion
Red Jacket opens up his speech to the Christian Missionaries by first thanking the Great Spirit for bringing them together and then says graciously that since they are a long way from home they shall leave with an answer. This answer being as to whether or not the Senecas will convert to Christianity. Next, Red Jacket goes on to recount the Indian’s history. He explains that the Indians use to own all of the land thanks to the Great Spirit. He describes how the Great Spirit made everything in the land so that the Indians were able to use it. Red Jacket’s account of the early life of the Indians’ seems to be very peaceful. He says that all that they needed was provided for and that there was hardly ever any war. However, Red Jacket explains that a once the white men came, all was lost.
In Red Jacket’s explanation, the Europeans brought immeasurable pain to the Indians. They came because of religious persecution and terrible leaders. The Indians felt sorry for them and allowed them a small piece of land. The Indians were incredibly hospitable to the white men by giving them land and later food. However, the white men only brought sorrow to the Indians. The Indians unwittingly thought that when more white men came, they were all of good heart, so they gave them more land, but this was not enough for the Europeans. They took more and more land. Once the Indians realized what was happening, it was too late. The Europeans were creating wars where Indians fought Indians and Red Jacket makes it a point to explain that they brought liquor to the Indians.
After showing what all the white men had brought on to the Indians already, Red Jacket begins to question the missionaries’ ideas. First, Red Jacket explains that they have already taken so much from them and now they want to take their religion too. He questions the missionaries asking how they know that their religion is right. Red Jacket contests that if their religion is taken from them, then they will forever be unhappy, religion being one of the last things that is still theirs. Red Jacket questions that why they were not given the Bible if Christianity is for them as well. Also, he asks that if it is the one true religion and everyone can read the Bible, then why do they argue about it so much. He continues to point out that in their religion they rarely fight compared to the Christians.
In the end, Red Jacket contends that the Christian God and the Great Spirit are actually one in the same. They were given different religions varying on how different types of people may understand. He compares this to other ways the “white and red men” differ such as skin tone, culture, and the arts. Thus, Red Jacket rejects the missionaries offer to proselytize the Indians, but also says that he does not want to get rid of Christianity. In fact, he says that he will consider their offer again depending on how the white men around them react by being taught Christianity. Although, Red Jacket merely wants his people to be able practice their own beliefs. Red Jacket ends his speech much alike the beginning by politely saying farewell and wishing the Great Spirit be with the missionaries.
Summary:
Analysis:
Many critics have claimed that Red Jacket spoke eloquently and was very effective in his speech to the missionaries. Some note the fact that Red Jacket calls out the hypocrisy of the missionaries. In doing so he also predicts rough relations between whites and Indians on the frontier. Furthermore, some suggest that Red Jacket’s speeches, among other Native Americans’, should be seen as pieces of literature rather than political speeches. When they claim this, they point to Red Jacket’s great imagery in his speeches. Examples of his imagery can be seen in his mentions of the Great Spirit. Moreover, most analysis of this speech points to Red Jacket’s great oratorical skills and his questioning of the missionaries motives. In his speech, it can be seen that Red Jacket believed that the Indians and Americans should stay separate while keeping their own traditions and cultures, and, in fact, it was wrong for the whites to impose their religion upon them.
Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of analysis of Red Jacket’s speeches. Thus, what little can be found is not always focused on Red Jacket’s technicalities in his speeches. Instead, they often remark on his great speaking skills and give an overview of the speech. Perhaps, this is because there is a lack of historical data to truly have in depth analysis of Red Jacket’s speeches. Nevertheless, there is a serious need for more critical analysis of many of Red Jacket’s speeches.
