The Seneca people were part of the great Iroquois federation of tribes that lived in the area we now know as Upstate New York. This federation of tribes also known as the Five Nations (or the Six Nations after the addition of the Tuscarora), was unique among Native peoples in the sophistication of its political organization. The Six Nations lived in a rough geographic line extending from the eastern edge of New York to the western. They called this territory their "long house," and each tribe had its place and its role.

The Senecas were the westernmost tribe, and were responsible for what was known as the "western door" of the long house. When a visitor or messenger came to this western door, it was the responsibility of the Senecas to assay the purpose of the visit. If it was something of little consequence, they were empowered to dispose of it in their own council. But if the subject under consideration proved to be something of importance to all the tribes of the federation, a runner was sent to call for a general meeting. The tribes then gathered and discussed the issue at hand, listening and speaking until common understanding had been reached.

It was this practice of government by council and consensus that fostered the oratorical genius of the people of the Iroquois federation. The need to discuss ideas clearly and directly, and to arrive at decisions which all could support, bred in the Iroquois an eloquence that European observers often compared to that of the Roman Senate.

It was to this tradition that Red Jacket was heir, and he undertook the task of oratorical training with extreme diligence. He studied other great speakers and their subtleties of style. He worked on musicality and nuance, and he strove to master the use of metaphor and poetic expression.

By the time he had achieved prominence in his tribe, he was capable of oratorical expression so full of nuance and poetry that government agent Horatio Jones called his oratorical talents "among the noblest that nature ever conferred upon man."

The speech quoted here was given in the summer of 1805. Its occasion was a meeting of the assembled chiefs of the Iroquois federation. They had gathered in council to hear the request of a young missionary named Cram, who had been sent among them by the Evangelical Missionary Society of Massachusetts. This society had sent missionaries before, and had met with some success. But the Indians apparently had not taken as fully to Christianity as the society had hoped. The society now hoped to establish Cram among the Iroquois so as to further their education in the Christian religion.

Cram spoke briefly, requesting only the right to follow up on the interest that certain of the Indians had shown in the Christian religion. After hearing him, the chiefs consulted for about two hours. Then Red Jacket rose and spoke.....
 
Friend and brother, it was the will of the Great Spirit that we should meet together this day. He orders all things, and He has given us a fine day for our council. He has taken his garment from before the sun and has caused it to shine with brightness upon us.

Our eyes are opened so that we see clearly. Our ears are unstopped so that we have been able to distinctly hear the words which you have spoken. For all these favors we thank the Great Spirit and Him only.

Brother, this council fire was kindled by you. It was at your request that we came together at this time. We have listened with attention to what you have said.

You have requested us to speak our minds freely. This gives us great joy, for we now consider that we stand upright before you, and can speak what we think. All have heard your voice and all speak to you now as one man. Our minds are agreed.

Brother, you say that you want an answer to your talk before you leave this place. It is right that you should have one, as you are a great distance from home, and we do not wish to detain you. But we will first look back a little, and tell you what our fathers have told us, and what we have heard from the white people.

Brother, listen to what we say.

There was a time when our forefathers owned this great island. (The Seneca, like many other tribes, refer to this continent as a "great island.") Their seats extended from the rising to the setting of the sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the use of Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food. He had made the bear and the beaver, and their skins served us for clothing. He had scattered them over the country and had taught us how to take them. He had caused the earth to produce corn for bread.  All this He had done for His red children because He loved them.

If we had any disputes about hunting grounds, they were generally settled without the shedding of much blood. But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great waters and landed upon this island.

Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion.

They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them, granted their request, and they sat down amongst us.

We gave them corn and meat. They gave us poison in return.

The white people, brother, had now found our country. Tidings were carried back and more came amongst us. Yet we did not fear them. We took them to be friends.

They called us brothers. We believed them and gave them a larger seat. At length their numbers had greatly increased.  They wanted more land. They wanted our country.  Our eyes were opened, and our minds became uneasy Wars took place. Indians were hired to fight against Indians, and many of our people were destroyed. They also brought strong liquor among us. It was strong and powerful and has slain thousands.

Brother our seats were once large, and yours were very small. You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our country, but you are not satisfied. You want to force your religion upon us.

Brother, continue to listen.

You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably to His mind, and if we do not take hold of the religion which you white people teach we shall be unhappy hereafter.

You say that you are right, and we are lost. How do we know this to be true?

We understand that your religion is written in a book. If it was intended for us as well, why has not the Great Spirit given it to us; and not only to us, but why did He not give to our forefathers the knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it rightly? We know only what you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white people?

Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agree, as you can all read the book?

Brother, we do not understand these things.

We are told that your religion was given to your forefathers and has been handed down, father to son. We also have a religion which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us, their children.

We worship in that way. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we receive, to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion.

Brother, the Great Spirit has made us all. But He has made a great difference between His white and red children. He has given us a different complexion and different customs. To you He has given the arts; to these He has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true.

Since He has made so great a difference between us in other things, why may we not conclude that He has given us a different religion, according to our understanding?

The Great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for His children. We are satisfied.

Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion, or to take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own.

Brother, you say you have not come to get our land or our money, but to enlighten our minds. I will now tell you that I have been at your meetings and saw you collecting money from the meeting.

I cannot tell you what the money was intended for but suppose it was for your minister; and if we should conform to your way of thinking, perhaps you should want some from us.

Brother, we are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while, and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good and makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again what you have said.

Brother, you have now heard our answer to your talk, and this is all we have to say at present. As we are going to part, we will come and take you by the hand, and hope the Great Spirit will protect you on your journey, and return you safe to your friends.
 
 
At the end of the speech, Red Jacket rose and approached the missionary with his hand extended. The missionary refused to take it.......