Nez Perce War - Speech by Chief Joseph

[PacificNorthWest-Relics]

I was recently researching the Nez Perce War of 1877 (Idaho/Oregon) and ran across a speech by Chief Joseph.

"When Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces and his brother Olicut inherited the name and power of their father. Old Joseph called the two sons to his death bed (1872) and requested them to hold forever the beautiful Wallowa Valley in Oregon. It was in defense of this valley and protest against its settlement by the whites that the famous Nez Perce War was fought." - Major Lee Moorhouse

SPEECH OF CHIEF JOSEPH
after his capture by General Oliver O. Howard

My friends my name is In-mu-too-yah-lat-lat (Thunder-traveling-over-the-mountains). I have been asked to show you my heart. I am glad to have a chance to do so now. I want the white man to understand my people. The white man has many words to tell how my people look to him, but it does not require many words to speak the truth. What I have to say will come from my heart and I will speak it with a straight tongue. The Great Spirit is looking at me and will hear me.

Good words do not last long until they amount to something. Words do not pay for dead people. They do not pay for my country now overrun by white men. They do not protect my father's grave. They do not pay for my horses and cattle. Good words will not give me back my children. 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. It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been too much talk by white men who had no right to talk.

If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indians he can live in peace. There need be no trouble. Treat all men alike. Give all the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow. All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The earth is the mother of all people and all people should have the same rights. If you tie a horse to a stake do you expect him to grow fat? If you pen an Indian on a small spot of earth and compel him to stay there he will not be content nor will he grow and prosper? I have asked some of the great white chiefs where they get their authority to say to the Indian that he shall stay in one place while white men go where they please? They cannot tell us.

When I think of our condition my heart is heavy. I see men of my race treated as outlaws, and driven from country to country, or shot down like animals!

Let me be-a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself-and I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.

When the white men treat the Indians as they treat each other then we shall have no more wars. We shall be alike brothers of one father and one mother. There will be one sky above, one country around us, and one government for all. Then the Great Spirit Chief will smile upon this land. He will send rain to wash out the bloody spots made by my brothers hands upon the face of the earth. For this the Indian is waiting and praying. I hope that no more groans of wounded men and women will ever go to the ear of the Great Spirit Chief and that all people may be one people.

In-mu-too-yah-lat-lat has spoken for his people.
(Source: Oregon: her history, her great men, her literature by John B. Horner, 1919)

September 21, 1904 Chief Joseph died at the age of 67 at his lonely place of exile at Nespelem on the Colville Indian Reservation Washington surrounded by a small band of his intimate friends A splendid monument erected by the State of Washington now marks his grave.

[rock hound taylor]

beutiful thanks

[kirby]

Powerful stuff! Thanks.

[brennan]

verry nice Yeah this place is pretty special don't know why "old chief joseph" wanted it so bad i guess it was the nicest place he came across in his journey. Some powerful words in that statement. It is a shame what happened to them and how they got treated.

[blueovalfever]

its sad when true words of wisdom fall on deaf ears....they called all the natives savages,but in reality all they wanted was freedom and peace.