Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph
Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it in Americanist orthography, popularly known as Chief Joseph or Young Joseph, succeeded his father Tuekakasas the leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kainband of Nez Perce, a Native American tribe indigenous to the Wallowa Valley in northeastern Oregon, in the interior Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
ProfessionWar Hero
Date of Birth3 March 1840
CityWallowa River, OR
country band lawyer
Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
fighting indian
When an Indian fights, he only shoots to kill.
father animal men
A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.
people want bloodshed
I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.
father native-american law
Our fathers gave us many laws which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good.
men government treated
I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.
mother country brother
Whenever the white man treats the Indian as they treat each other then we shall have no more wars. We shall be all alike - brothers of one father and mother, with one sky above us and one country around us and one government for all. Then the Great Spirit Chief who rules above will smile upon this land and send rain to wash out the bloody spots made by brothers' hands upon the face of the earth. For this time the Indian race is waiting and praying. I hope no more groans of wounded men and women will ever go to the ear of the Great Spirit Chief above, and that all people may be one people.
men race white-man
I know that my race must change. We cannot hold our own with the white men as we are. We only ask an even chance to live as other men live. We ask to be recognized as men. We ask that the same law shall work alike on all men. If an Indian breaks the law, punish him by the law. If a white man breaks the law, punish him also.
strong war heart
It required a strong heart to stand up against such talk, but I urged my people to be quiet and not to begin a war.
country home men
I only ask of the Government to be treated as all other men are treated. If I cannot go to my own home, let me have a home in a country where my people will not die so fast.
may meat fur
Finest fur may cover toughest meat.
names legs bigs
Big name often stands on small legs.
people pay dead-people
Words do not pay for my dead people.
children thinking men
I am not a child, I think for myself. No man can think for me.