Funerary oration is an art form that has been with humans at least as long as writing. Modern funerals tend toward anecdotal compendia of the deceased's loved ones. Only state funerals tend to maintain the lofty oratory of days passed. In 1817 John Bradbury published a little known work called Travels in the Interior of America, in the Years 1809, 1810, and 1811. The book detailed his adventures in the American Mid-west focusing on the Missouri River, Ohio River, and with some mention of the Platte River. In the appended material for that work is a fine example of recorded Native American oratory. The time is July 14, 1813. The place is Portage des Sioux. The occasion is the funeral of Teton chief Black Buffalo. The speaker is Maha chief Big Elk.
"Do not grieve-- misfortunes will happen to the wisest and best of men. Death will come, and always comes out of season;-- it is the command of the Great Spirit, and all nations and people must obey. What is passed, and cannot be prevented, should not be grieved for. Be not discouraged or displeased then, that in visiting your father here, you have lost your chief. A misfortune of this kind may never befal (sic.) you, but this would have attended you perhaps at your own village. Five times have I visited this land, and never returned with sorrow or pain. Misfortunes do not flourish particularly in our path-- they grow everywhere. What a misfortune for me that I could not have died this day, instead of the chief that lies before us. The trifling loss my nation would have sustained in my death, would have been doubly paid for by the honours of my burial-- they would have wiped off every thing like regret. Instead of being covered with a cloud of sorrow-- my warriors would have felt the sunshine of joy in their hearts. To me it would have be a most glorious occurrence. Hereafter, when I die at home, instead of a noble grave and a grand procession, the rolling music and thundering cannon, with a flag waving at my head, I shall be wrapped in a robe, (an old robe perhaps) and hoisted on a slender scaffold to the whistling winds, soon to be blown down to the earth-- my flesh to be devoured by the wolves, and my bones rattled on the plains by wild beasts. Chief of the soldiers-- your labors have not been in vain:-- your attention shall not be forgotten. My nation shall know the respect that is paid over the dead. When I return I will echo the sound of your guns."
"Do not grieve-- misfortunes will happen to the wisest and best of men. Death will come, and always comes out of season;-- it is the command of the Great Spirit, and all nations and people must obey. What is passed, and cannot be prevented, should not be grieved for. Be not discouraged or displeased then, that in visiting your father here, you have lost your chief. A misfortune of this kind may never befal (sic.) you, but this would have attended you perhaps at your own village. Five times have I visited this land, and never returned with sorrow or pain. Misfortunes do not flourish particularly in our path-- they grow everywhere. What a misfortune for me that I could not have died this day, instead of the chief that lies before us. The trifling loss my nation would have sustained in my death, would have been doubly paid for by the honours of my burial-- they would have wiped off every thing like regret. Instead of being covered with a cloud of sorrow-- my warriors would have felt the sunshine of joy in their hearts. To me it would have be a most glorious occurrence. Hereafter, when I die at home, instead of a noble grave and a grand procession, the rolling music and thundering cannon, with a flag waving at my head, I shall be wrapped in a robe, (an old robe perhaps) and hoisted on a slender scaffold to the whistling winds, soon to be blown down to the earth-- my flesh to be devoured by the wolves, and my bones rattled on the plains by wild beasts. Chief of the soldiers-- your labors have not been in vain:-- your attention shall not be forgotten. My nation shall know the respect that is paid over the dead. When I return I will echo the sound of your guns."
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