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.
men law asks
We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men.
people divided
My people were divided about surrendering.
war men buying
I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
fighting indian
When an Indian fights, he only shoots to kill.
men government treated
I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.
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.
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.
children giving give-me
Good words will not give me back my children.
war want ought
War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.