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
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.
country band lawyer
Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
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.
may meat fur
Finest fur may cover toughest meat.
children giving give-me
Good words will not give me back my children.
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.
country giving-up war
I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.
men vaccines white
We soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy.
truth few-words telling-the-truth
It takes few words to tell the truth.
done heard
I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done.