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 earth way
All people should be treated the same way on earth.
people divided
My people were divided about surrendering.
men white-man people
I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.
people want bloodshed
I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.
people pay dead-people
Words do not pay for my dead people.
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.
heart people my-heart
I cannot tell how much my heart suffered for my people while at Leavenworth.
moving home people
General Howard informed me, in a haughty spirit, that he would give my people 30 days to go back home, collect all their stock, and move onto the reservation.
men white people
Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understand.
tongue speak
I will speak with a straight tongue.
native-american law great-american
I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.
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.
race knows
I know that my race must change.