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
native-american fighting sun
From where the sun now stands I will fight no more.
country men land
Governor Isaac Stevens of the Washington Territory said there were a great many white people in our country, and many more would come; that he wanted the land marked out so that the Indians and the white man could be separated.
mother native-american rights
The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.
done heard
I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done.
men vaccines white
We soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy.
people divided
My people were divided about surrendering.
running men rivers
You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
men government treated
I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.
native-american law great-american
I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.
lying men white-man
The white men told lies for each other. They drove off a great many of our cattle. Some branded our young cattle so they could claim them.
hurt heart men
When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
war men buying
I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
war saws
I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.
men white-man people
I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.