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.
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.
father men white-man
My father was the first to see through the schemes of the white man.
war men buying
I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
men white-man people
I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.
father animal men
A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.
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.
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.
children thinking men
I am not a child, I think for myself. No man can think for me.
men two looks
Look twice at a two-faced man.
hurt heart men
When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
men people ears
I hope that 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.