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Chief Seattle

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The Resume

    (circa 1786-June 7, 1866)
    Born in Blake Island, Washington
    Name also spelled Seathle, Seathl and See-ahth
    Leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes
    Namesake for Seattle, Washington
    Remembered for a speech about Native American rights and ecology

Why he might be annoying:

    He owned slaves captured in raids on other tribes.
    The speech he is remembered for was delivered circa 1854, but first written down by Dr. Henry Smith in 1887, based on Smith's notes.
    He delivered his speech in the local Lushootseed language, which was translated into Chinook, then translated by a third person into English.
    How much of the speech recorded by Smith is Seattle's words, how much is the result of multiple translations and how much may have been interpolated or invented by Smith are all unknown.
    The most widely circulated version of the speech adds further material from a 60s screenplay.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Traders from the Hudson's Bay Company nicknamed him Le Gros (The Big One) for his imposing height.
    He was a powerful orator who could be heard for 3/4 of a mile.
    He maintained peaceful relations with the white settlers in Washington.
    He had to move out of his namesake town when Seattle passed an ordinance banning permanent Indian homes within city limits (1865).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 23 Votes: 60.87% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 315 Votes: 78.10% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 143 Votes: 58.04% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 121 Votes: 61.98% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 40 Votes: 42.50% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 31.25% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 32 Votes: 53.12% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 22 Votes: 31.82% Annoying