The Orator of the Seneca: Red Jacket, Voice of Sovereignty
This lithograph is of Red Jacket, a noted Seneca war chief and orator. It comes from the "History of the Indian Tribes of North America" with portraits published after Charles Bird King, circa 1838.
Red Jacket, known by the Seneca as Sagoyewatha, meaning "Keeper Awake," was a prominent leader and spokesperson for the Seneca nation. His nickname, Red Jacket, derives from a highly embroidered coat given to him by the British for his role during the American Revolutionary War, in which the Seneca allied with the British.
After the war, Red Jacket became well-known as a critical mediator in negotiations between the United States and the Seneca nation, often speaking on behalf of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. He was a staunch defender of Seneca sovereignty and Native American traditions. Red Jacket's fame also stems from his oratorical skills; his speeches were widely reported, and his eloquent defense of native religion in response to a Christian missionary is particularly famous.
The lithograph shows Red Jacket wearing a European-style jacket and a peace medal—given to Native American leaders by the United States government as tokens of diplomacy—around his neck. His strong, dignified profile conveys the presence of a man who played a significant role in the history of the Seneca people and their interactions with European settlers and the American government.
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