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
strong war heart
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.
country home men
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.
may meat fur
Finest fur may cover toughest meat.
names legs bigs
Big name often stands on small legs.
people pay dead-people
Words do not pay for my dead people.
children thinking men
I am not a child, I think for myself. No man can think for me.
children giving give-me
Good words will not give me back my children.
men two looks
Look twice at a two-faced man.
reputation cursed
Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.
truth believe heart
I believe much trouble and blood would be saved if we opened our hearts more. I will tell you in my way how the Indian 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.
hurt heart men
When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
war want ought
War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.
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.
country giving-up war
I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.