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 law asks
We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men.
country band lawyer
Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
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.
men law giving
Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow.
people earth way
All people should be treated the same way on earth.
people divided
My people were divided about surrendering.
native-american men white-man
If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indianwe can live in peace. There need be no trouble. Treat all men alike. give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow.
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.
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.
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.