1840-1904
Chief Joseph was the name he was called by the white man.
But to his people he was known as.
(In-mut-too-yah-lat-lat)
(Thunder coming up over the land from the water)
Chief Joseph was the oldest son of Old Joseph. In 1877 Chief Joseph
assumed his role as chief and leader over the Wallowa band of Nez
Perce Indians, and their famouse march in 1877 were he led his people
over more than 1,500 miles of moutainous terrain.
Chief
Joseph agreed to that his Nez Perce´- tribe voluntarily would
move from their home in the Wallowa valley to a reservation in Idaho.
But some of the younger Indians marched out on a plundering expedition.
The result to that was that the cavallry were sent out against the
tribe. Although Joseph had
opposed war,he joined the war leaders, but he also knew that the only
way for the tribe to survive was to escape to Canada. Under the long
journey to Canada they repetedly fought back the cavallry attacks.
But finally they had to surrender when they were only 50km from the
Canadian border. The Nez Perce´Indians were sent to a reservation
were many of them died from malaria and starvation.
Chief Joseph tried every possible appeal to the federal authorities
to return the Nez perce´to the land of their ancestors.
In
1879 Chief Joseph held a speech at Lincoln Hall, Washington, D.C.
Were he argued for the same civil liberties granted every American
citizen.
"I have heard talk, and talk..."
( Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekht )
" I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done. Good words
do not last long unless they amount to something. Words do not pay
for my dead people. They do not pay for my country, now overun by
the white men. Good words will not give my people good health and
stop them from dying. Good words will not get my people a home where
they can live in peace and take care of themselves. I am TIRED of
talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart sick when I remember
all the good words and broken promises.
The earth is our mother. She should not be disturbed by hoe or plough.
We want only to subsist on what she freely gives us.
I believe much trouble and blood would be saved if we opened our hearts
more. I will tell you in my way how the Indians sees things. The white
man has more words to tell you how they look to him, but it does not
require many words to speak the truth.
If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian...we 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. You
might as well expect the rivers to run backwards as that any man who
is born a free man should be contented when penned up and denied liberty
to go where he pleases. We only ask an even chance to live as other
men live. We ask to be recognized as men. Let me be a free man...free
to travel...free to stop...free to work...free to choose my own teachers...free
to follow the religion of my fathers...free to think and talk and
act for my self."
According to the reservation doctor, Chief Joseph died
of a broken heart in a reservation in Washington 1904.
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