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
men white-man land
For a short time we lived quietly. But this could not last. White men had found gold in the mountains around the land of winding water.
mistake thinking animal
Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.
men white authority
I have asked some of the great white chiefs where they get their authority to say to the Indian that he shall stay in one place, while he sees white men going where they please. They cannot tell me.
country lawyer chiefs
A chief called Lawyer, because he was a great talker, took the lead in the council, and sold nearly all the Nez Perce country.
religion church want
We do not want churches. They will teach us to quarrel about God.
brother war white
We had good white friends who advised us against taking the war path. My friend and brother, Mr. Chapman, told us just how the war would end.
long lasts action
Good words do not last long unless they amount to something.
country winter men
We did not know there were other people besides the Indian until about one hundred winters ago, when some men with white faces came to our country.
native-american race land
The Great Spirit Chief who rules above all will smile upon this land... and this time the Indian race is waiting and praying.
dad father hands
I pressed my father's hand and told him I would protect his grave with my life. My father smiled and passed away to the spirit land.
country heart men
When I think of our condition, my heart is heavy. I see men of my own race treated as outlaws and driven from country to country, or shot down like animals.
brother native-american reality
All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers.
broken-heart sick broken-promises
It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.
race racism waiting
The Indian race are waiting and praying.