Chief JosephChief Joseph

• Real name is In-mut-too-yah-lat-lat, meaning “Thunder rolling down the mountain”

• Born in the Wallowa Valley of northeastern Oregon

• Called “Young Joseph” because his father had the same name

• Members of the Nez Perce Indians (meaning “nose-pierced indians”)

• When Young Joseph’s father died, he was elected to succeed him

•He inherited an unstable situation amongst white settlers moving into the Nez Perces’ Wallowa Valley

•in 1873 a federal order to remove white settlers and let his people remain in the Wallowa Valley made it seem like everything was okay

•Then the US government reversed themselves and Gen. Oliver Otis Howard threatened a cavalry attack to force Nez Perces out

• Gen. Howard wanted to move the Indians to a reservation in Idaho

• Joseph staged a 1,500 mile march, in one of the most brilliant military retreats in American history

• 700 Nez Perces Indians fought over 2,000 American soldiers in four different battles

• Duration of about three months

• Formally surrendered on October 5, 1877

• Joseph was known as the “Red Napoleon” in the American press

• US Army trapped the Nez Perces about 40 miles outside of Canada

• Fought for 5 days but the remaining 431 Indians were beaten

• This speech expresses Chief Joseph’s feelings from the fighting

(pg. 378)

“I am tired of fighting. Our Chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. (cont. )

My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are - perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.”

• Chief Joseph’s views of Indian life and beliefs (page 379)

• Published in magazines for white audience

- an exception to the usual American practice of seeing Indians entirely from the point of view of whites

Key concepts....Key concepts....

White Man ViewsWhite Man Views

• Indians are savagesIndians are savages

• They have no moralsThey have no morals

• They are not They are not intelligentintelligent

Real IndiansReal Indians

• Treat others with the Treat others with the same respect that is same respect that is givengiven

• Never take a woman Never take a woman or “property” from or “property” from another man without another man without payingpaying

• Respect God and their Respect God and their ancestorsancestors