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Indian Chief Seattle
Seattle, Washington is name after him
華盛頓的總統傳話來想要買我們的土地。
這個想法對我們很奇怪！
假如我們不是擁有新鮮的空氣及流水，我們如何能賣他們呢？
對我們族人而言土地是神聖的！
每一根閃亮的松針及鳴叫的昆蟲！
在我們族人記憶及生活中都是崇高神聖的。
我們曉得樹汁循環樹體有如血液循環血管！
我們是土地的一部份，土地也是我們的一部份！
香花是我們的妹妹，熊，鹿還有大鷹是我們的兄弟！
石頭的皮草原的嫰汁，小馬的體熱還有人均是一個大家庭！
在溪邊或河流中閃爍的不只是水而己，
也是我們祖先的鮮血！
假如我們把土地賣給您們，請記得它的神聖！
在淸徹湖泊中有如鬼魅般的倒影均敍述著我們族人
的往事及回憶！
湖水泥喃著父親的父親的聲音！
河流是我們的兄弟止住我們的乾渇！
並運載我們的小獨木舟，餵飽我們的小孩！
所以您們必須仁慈對待河流有如兄弟！
假如我們賣給您們土地，
記得空氣是我們珍惜貴重的東西！
土地上的風帶給我們祖父第一聲的哭啼及最後一聲的嘆息！
風也帶給我們小孩的神靈！
所以假如我們賣給您們土地，您們要尊重視其為聖物，
讓人們可到這個地方吸食被草原花卉潤澤清甜的氣息！
您們願意教養您們的小孩有如我們一樣嗎？
大地是我們的母親，
所有加之於土地的一切將會折回在這片大地的小孩身上！
我們曉得土地並不屬於人，而是人屬於土地！
所有東西一體的有如我們血液也是一體的！
人無法編織生命，他們只是其中的一小部分！
不管他們如何對待生命？人將是自做自受！
我們知道一件事！我們的神也是您們的神。
這片土地對神是珍貴的！傷害土地等於是輕視汚蔑造物者！⋯⋯
圖片附原說明…
"The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? The land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you sell them? Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.
We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters. The bear, the deer, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the juices in the meadow, the body heat of a pony, and man, all belong to the same family.
The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you our land, you must remember that it is sacred. Each ghostly reflection in the clear waters of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The waters murmur in the voice of my father's father. The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. So you must give to the river the kindness you would give any brother.
If we sell you our land, remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also receives his last sigh. The wind also gives our children the spirit of life. So if we sell you our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow Flowers.
Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our Mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth.
This we know: The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.
One thing we know: Our God is your God. The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its Creator.
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印地安人與土地
