Simon Pokagon Speech

Pokagon, Simon “The Red Man’s Greeting,” Talking Back to Civilization 31-35.
In 1893, Simon Pokagon spoke at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. He was a prominent tribal leader who was known for this speech. So much so, it was printed and turned into an informative pamphlet. The speech encompassed American history and it’s push Westward, detailing the destruction of the Native lands and culture forever. He begins by telling the crowd about how he cannot celebrate with them in this great big new city, because it reminds him of all that was lost. Pokagon states, “where stands this “Queen City of the West” once stood the red man’s wigwams;” (Page 32). A bold statement follows about how nature was plentiful, until pale face came with their

insatiable hunger for gold. They were so insatiable, that the pale face enslaved the very people who helped them. The Natives grew tired and fought back to their death. They were not going to go without a fight. This hunger drove the push Westward, great networks of railroads were created, pushing out the Natives from their home lands. There was some who brought religion to the Natives and fought for them, but were also overpowered. Presented with “fire water” (Page 33), the Natives were not in their normal state. Alcohol was used as a tool to betray them. Betrayals of treaties that were made to look as if both sides were in accord. Even in the history books taught at school, lessons were taught as if everything was okay and not stolen from anyone. The Natives believed that at the beginning when pale face landed, he had good intentions as a sculptor would a naked block of stone. But, with time, that stone was mangled and destroyed making something completely different. Once believed to be holy men sent to the Natives with new powers such as, sunrise and sunset times, flashes from the barrels of their riffles and Christian teachings. All to be betrayed and left for dead, “the survival of the fittest.” (Page 35) Civilization would not be where it is today, without all that was lost.
The article is of great historical importance, a memoir of one side of the Westward movement.

It is the perspective of the Natives and how they feel they have been wrongfully treated. All perspectives must be looked at to figure out where the truth lies. Pokagon gives a very strong one-sided story. He does give way too few who stood up for the Native way of life, but remains not to believe it was all in the name of progression. He believes very adamantly that is was all in the name of greed. The greed for gold drove out his kind, not the need to progression. He proves his point by sharing what happened to the lives of the Natives, using such things as alcohol and railroad systems. Those two things were used to break treaties and push out tribes from their native lands. The strongest point he uses is slavery. Recalling how the Natives accepted and helped the settlers, but weren’t repaid with the same kindness. He is specifically speaking to the pale face who stole everything from his people. While history books portray Natives as the problem, he uses all he knows to repaint a different story. He does not shy away from the eventuality of progression, but rather believes it could have been another

way.