Sagoyawatha

“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 are not satisfied you want to force your religion upon us.”(2). That was Sagoyewatha (aka Red Jacket) from when he defended the Native American religion in a speech. He was an excellent speaker and he played a prominent role in negotiations with the new United States federal government (1). He negotiated on behalf of his nation with the new United States after the American Revolutionary War, when the Seneca as British allies were forced to cede much land, and signed the Treaty of Canandaigua (1794). He helped secure some Seneca territory in New York State, although most of the people had migrated to Canada for resettlement after the defeat of the British. (1). Sagoyewatha’s birthplace has been a matter of debate. Some historians say he was born at the Old Seneca Castle near present-day Geneva, New York. Others say he was born near Cayuga Lake. Others think even differently. He was born to the Wolf Clan (1). His enemy Joseph Brant contemptuously referred to Sagoyewatha as “cow killer”, saying that instead of killing an American rebel Sagoyewatha actually killed a cow and used its blood to say he killed a rebel (1). Sagoyewatha then became famous as an orator, speaking for the rights of his people. George Washington even presented him with a special “peace medal”, a large oval of silver plate engraved with an image of Washington on the right-hand side shaking Red Jacket's hand; below was inscribed "George Washington", "Red Jacket", and "1792". Red Jacket wore this medal on his chest in every portrait painted of him. (1). A variety of structures, ships and places were named in his honor, especially in the Finger Lakes region and Buffalo. (1). Settlers called him "Red Jacket" because he had a richly embroidered red jacket, which a British officer had given him. During the