Sagoyewatha, commonly known as Red Jacket for the British crimson coat he often wore, was a Chief and orator for the Seneca Wolf clan.[1] Red Jacket was a pacifist who spent his life attempting to preserve the lands of the Seneca tribe, but he did his best to preserve life whenever possible when the war came to his backyard.[2] He was known specifically for intervening to stop torture throughout the war.[3] In this way, Red Jacket is sometimes described as a neutral and forced participant in the American Revolution.

Little specifics are recorded regarding Red Jacket’s life, as he lived among his people who celebrated oral history. Red Jacket’s Seneca name Sagoywatha translates to “He Keeps Them Awake” and set in stone his legacy as a controversial figure, perhaps referring to enemies of the tribe including white settlers.[4] However, he was christened in the name “Otetiani” which translates to “always ready” so historians know he was a cherished and fierce warrior.[5]

According to one of his step daughters, he rarely smiled, but was a kind soul nonetheless.[6] Red Jacket wore his hair in a single braid and is described to have paler complexion than most members of the Seneca Nation.[7] While he rarely chose to interact with people outside his tribe, he respected that the white man had a different way of life, as historians know from an account that he bowed to greet white visitors in his home.[8]

Red Jacket outlived all of his siblings and children, though the community greatly mourned his loss through the traditional ten-day funeral.[9] After the war, Red Jacket is famous for delivering a speech to Congress in 1805 pleading that the religious freedom found in the United States’ founding documents apply to Native Americans who were being harassed by missionaries.[10] In a time when the lives of any group on the outskirts of society were not valued, Red Jacket stood up for people and their fundamental human rights.