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Chief Joseph Biography

Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt (or Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it in Americanist orthography), popularly known as Chief Joseph or Young Joseph (March 3, 1840 – September 21, 1904), was a leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain (Wallowa) band of Nez Perce, a Native American tribe of the interior Pacific Northwest region of the United States, in the latter half of the 19th century. He succeeded his father Tuekakas (Chief Joseph the Elder) in the early 1870s.

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Chief Joseph Quotes

We gave up some of our country to the white men, thinking that then we could have peace. We were mistaken. The white man would not let us alone.

Country, Gave, Men, Peace, Thinking

We are going by you without fighting if you will let us, but we are going by you anyhow!

American Indian, Anyhow, Fighting, Let, Native American

We were taught to believe that the Great Spirit sees and hears everything, and that he never forgets, that hereafter he will give every man a spirit home according to his deserts; If he has been a good man, he will have a good home; if he has been a bad man, he will have a bad home. This I believe, and all my people believe the same.

Believe, Forgets, Home, Native American, People, Spirit

An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.

Bravery, Coward, Despises, Men, Respects

I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.

Avoid, Bloodshed, Hard, Labored, Trouble

I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.

Great American, Law, Native American, Obey, Penalty, Submit

We live, we die, and like the grass and trees, renew ourselves from the soft earth of the grave. Stones crumble and decay, faiths grow old and they are forgotten, but new beliefs are born. The faith of the villages is dust now. . . but it will grow again. . . like the trees.

Beliefs, Dust, Grass, Native American, Renew, Tree

Words do not pay for my dead people.

Dead, Dead People, Pay, People, Words

If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace. . . . . Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all 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 equal rights upon it. . . . . . . Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade. . . . where I choose my own 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.

Brother, Man, Mother, Peace, Teacher, White

My father was the first to see through the schemes of the white man.

Father, Men, Schemes, White, White Man

Good words will not give me back my children.

Back, Children, Give Me, Giving, Good, Words

I pressed my father's hand and told him I would protect his grave with my life. My father smiled and passed away to the spirit land.

Dad, Father, Hand, Hands, Land, Told

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.

Heart, Strong, Talk, Urged, War

I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.

American Indian, Broken Promises, Nothing, Talk, Tired

I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done.

Done, Heard, Nothing, Talk

Look twice at a two-faced man.

Look, Looks, Man, Men, Twice, Two

For a short time we lived quietly. But this could not last. White men had found gold in the mountains around the land of winding water.

Found, Land, Men, White Man, Winding

The country was made without lines of demarcation, and it is no man's business to divide it. . . Do not misunderstand me, but understand me fully with reference to my affection for the land. I never said the land was mine to do with it as I chose. The one who has the right to dispose of it is the one who created it. I claim a right to live on my land and accord you the privilege to live on yours.

Country, Men, Land, Dispose, Demarcation, Chose

I only ask of the Government to be treated as all other men are treated. If I cannot go to my own home, let me have a home in a country where my people will not die so fast.

Country, Fast, Home, Men, People, Treated

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

Animal, Animals, Country, Heart, Race

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