Chief+Joseph

“I have carried a heavy load on my back ever since I was a boy. I realized then that we could not hold our own with the white men. We were like deer. They were like grizzly bears. We had small country. Their country was large. We were contented to let things remain as the Great Spirit Chief made them. They were not, and would change the rivers and mountains if they did not suit them.” –Chief Joseph =**Background ** =

Chief Joseph was born on March 3, 1840 in the Wallowa Valley. This area is located in the northeastern part of Oregon. He got his name Joseph from his father. His people were originally friendly to the white people. They greeted the Lewis and Clark expedition with open arms in 1805 for helping a woman by the name of Watkuweis return home to the tribe. As more settlers moved out towards his peoples' lands, more tension grew between him and whites. In 1855, the first treaty was signed to keep his people on a reservation. In 1863, a new treaty was signed that gave them only twenty percent of the original land due to gold being found. In 1871 Chief Josephs' father died and left his son with words of wisdom to help lead his people and what to do to keep his peoples' land. By 1877, a battle had broken out between the Nez Perce and the Whites (Blue Coats). Chief Joseph was told he had thirty days to move his people to the reservations. He refused and lead seven hundred people towards the Canadian border. He was pursued the entire way and was caught fourty miles out with 421 people.When he surrendered he gave a famous speech at Bear Paw. He and his people were forced to go to reservations spread throughout the country by the American government. He died September 21, 1904 in the Colville Reservation in Washington.

==**Young Beginning ** ==

Chief Joseph was born in the Walla Valley located in Oregon. He was given the name Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt which means Thunder rolling down the mountain. Later when the missionaries arrived, he was given the name Joseph the younger. This name was handed down to him by his father, who took the Christian name Joseph when he was baptized. Chief Joseph was educated for a couple years in the missionaries’ schools, learning the white man’s ways. This did not last long though; the Nez Perce asked the missionaries to leave not long after their arrival for trying to force their belifes on to the people. When the missionaries, Chief Joseph was taught how to be a warrior, a good hunter and a horse handler. He was trained to fight, but all Joseph wanted after his father died in 1871 was to keep peace between the whites and his people.

===**Chief ** ===

Chief Joseph was a chief within a tribal nation that had many people. He was a leader of one band out of about fifty. His band was known as the Imanah, which translates to "Grand Valley" in english. The area in which he and his people lived was considered to be one of the most pristine pieces of land within the Nez Perce Nation. This was not unnoticed by the whites of his time. In 1863, the Nez Perce were robbed of eighty percent of their land. When Chief Joseph went to a council with the elder chiefs, he was told never to dispose of his homeland.He was cautioned that if he did, he would send great dishonor to his families and ancestors. Echoing the words of the Elder Chiefs, Josephs father left him with these words :  “My son, my body is returning to my mother earth, and my spirit is going very soon to see the Great Spirit Chief. When I am gone, think of your country. You are the chief of these people. They look to you to guide them. Always remember that your father never sold his country. You must stop your ears whenever you are asked to sign a treaty selling your home. A few years more and white men will be all around you. They have their eyes on this land. My son, never forget my dying words. This country holds your father's body. Never sell the bones of your father and your mother.” He did not want to see his father’s land get taken from him and his people. After his dad died in 1871 Chief Josephs main goal was to keep peace between his people and the white man, but he knew in the end he would not be able to keep his land. When General Howard stepped in for the American military, he told Chief Joseph that he and his people needed to leave the lands. When Joseph refused, General Howard told him that he had no say in the matter and there was not going to be a treaty to sign this time. While Joseph was trying to keep the peace and calm his people, he request a thirty day time to get his people ready to leave. This was granted to him by Howard. Joseph knew that the task ahead was going to be hard, but what he did not expect was interference from the settlers. Not even ten days into the thirty days settlers were starting to claim land. There are various stories about what happened at this point one says this; The whites made it clear that the land was theirs. They killed a young Indian boy one day for coming upon their lands. This was the turning point when the chiefs heard of this malicious crime they were determined to die fighting. The second popular story on what happen was that there was three to four Nez Perce warriors that went inot the settlers camps. While they were there they killed numerous whites including: men, women and children.When chief Joseph heard about this violence, he said to his people,“"I have tried to save you from suffering and sorrow. Resistance means all of that. We are few. They are many. You can see all we have at a glance. They have food and ammunition in abundance. We must suffer great hardship and loss." Although he was peaceful, he knew that action needed to be taken.

<span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Leaving & Defeat **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> When chief Jospeh left his lands he had a strategic battle plan when attacking the U.S military. He left with about seven hundred men, women and children to go to the Canadian border. He was attacked the entire way up to Montana, and through it. His battle plan is recognized as one of the most brilliant military plans in American history. Through the tactics he pulled on the U.S. military he got the name "Red Napoleon" from the media. He has many tactics in which he got the nickname.One was sending a few people one way to clear a path by the rivers sides.This tricked General Howards troops to go in the wrong directions. Another way was gaining superior fighting postions by reading the lands geography. This worked up until October 5, 1877. He was just 40 miles away from the Canadian border and was caught by General Miles and Howard. When he surrender he gave a famous speech to his people. Saying, “I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. LookingGlass is dead. Toohulhulsote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. It is cold and we have no blcan find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. The little children are freezing to death. 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 I 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.”

=<span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Outcome <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">When Chief Joseph Surrendered he was told that his people would be able to return to the reservation together by General Howard. This was hardly the case many of his people ended up in reservations throughout the south with promises of someday being able to return. Chief Joseph ended up separated from all his people on a reservation in Washington. In 1884, some of his people were finally allowed to return to their families on the reservation in Idaho. Chief Joseph was never allowed to return in died in September in 1904 at the Colville Reservation in Washington.

<span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">References <span style="display: block; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> 1.Cameron Trading Post. "The Last Days of the Nez Perces - Cameron Trading Post." //Grand Canyon Hotel Lodging - Native American Indian and Southwest Art - Cameron Trading Post//. 2005. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.camerontradingpost.com/nezpercehx.html>. Article discusses in great detail the trip that Chief Jospeh went on with his people. Also talks about the battle and how other Indian leaders were important. 2."Chief Joseph and Family. Photo - Monte Dodge Photos at Pbase.com." //PBase.com//. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://www.pbase.com/mad_monte1/image/57384880>. This site has numerous photos that have Chief Josephs family in them. 3. Dolittle, Bev. "Http://www.powersource.com/gallery/people/joseph.html." //Powersource Native American Art and Education Center//. History and Discovery Channels. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.powersource.com/gallery/people/joseph.html>. This page has many quotes that were said by Chief Joseph. These quotes reflect how he and his people felt about the white man in time. 4. Eastman, Charles A. "Chief Joseph - Leader of the Nez Perce and a True American." //Legends of America - A Travel Site for the Nostalgic and Historic Minded//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-chiefjoseph.html>. This article discusses what happened before the battles took place with the whites and Njez Perce. DIscusses what Josephs feeligns were in the situation. 5."The Flight of the Nez Perce - Timeline." //Our Heritage Home Page//. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ourheritage.net/index_page_stuff/following_trails/chief_joseph/chief_joseph_timeline.html>. This is a detailed timeline of what time events took place that were important to not only Chief Joseph, but his people as well 6. The Junto Society. "Native American - Nez Perce - Chief Joseph." //Junto Society Home Page//. 2002. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.juntosociety.com/native/nezperce.htm>. This Site gives information about the Nez perce Tribe as a whole. His military retreat accomplishments are discussed in this site too. 7. Kessel, William B. New York: Book Builders LLC, 2005. //Google Books//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://books.google.com/books?id=laxSyAp89G4C&pg=PA312&lpg=PA312&dq=some+of+chief+joseph's+military+tactics&source=bl&ots=1UEEpIDHcS&sig=jXxSew3isPIhOqpdnZfJC3lP4Sk&hl=en&ei=WqSrTeHvEKOE0QGUp7T5CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false>. This boook discussed the Native American way of war and how Chief Jospeh use these in his war against the military. 8. McCloskey, Mary Lou. "Chief Joseph." //Welcome to Georgia State University//. 2005. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www2.gsu.edu/~eslmlm/chiefjoseph.html>. This page has Cheif Joseph surrender speech. That he gave when the millitary caught up with him near the candian border. 9. Miller, Gay. "Chief Joseph." //~Mountain City Elementary School - Mountain City, Tennessee~//. 2001. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/famous/chief_joseph.htm>. This page shares one of the stories in which the battles broke out between the whites and Nez Perce. It also gives a summary of his whole life. 10. Minthorn, Phil E. "Chief Joseph, Nez Perce." //The Original ~ Indians.org//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.indians.org/welker/joseph.htm>. This paper talks about some of his belifes as an Indian with in his culture and what his llife held told in the eyes of a descendent of Chief Joseph. 11. Moulton, Candy. New York: Tom Doherty, 2005. //Google Books//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://books.google.com/books?id=f2RGSN9YCacC>. This book discusses everything about his life (a biography). It highlights the fact that everything he did was in the best interest of his people. 12. Nez Perce Tribe. "Chief Joseph Photos." //Official Home of the Nez Perce Tribal Web Site//. 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.nezperce.org/History/ChiefJosephPhotos.htm>. Pictures of Chief Joseph on his Nez Perce horse and traditional tribal clothing. 13. Paul, Daniel. "Chief Joseph." //American Indian History - Mi'kmaq First Nation: We Were Not the Savages//. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://www.danielnpaul.com/ChiefJoseph-NezPerce.html>. This site has quotes form Chief Joseph. It also contains what happened to him and his people when he surrendered. 14. Sandburg, Carl. "Joseph's Early Life." //Eastern Illinois University :: Charleston, Illinois//. Fall 2000. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <http://castle.eiu.edu/~wow/joschild.htm>. This article talks about Chief Josephs younger days and the manner in which he was educated. 15. Simkin, John. "Chief Joseph." //Spartacus Educational - Home Page//. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWjoseph.htm>. The article talks about some of Chief Josephs view on matters and speechs that he gave at different times. 16. Soylent Communications. "Chief Joseph." //NNDB: Tracking the Entire World//. 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.nndb.com/people/257/000173735/>. This articel sums up Chief Josephs life and focusses on the military aspect. It also includes another story on which the war broke out in 1877. 17. Swagerty, William R. //Chief Washakie Foundation//. University of the Pacific. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://www.windriverhistory.org/exhibits/chiefjoseph/chiefjoseph01.htm>. This site talks about the missionaries that came in to the Nez Perce area. It goes into detail about his immediate family and extended family. 18. "Timeline." //Google//. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en>. This is a timeline of events that shows important dates in Chief Josephs life. 19. U.S. History. "Chief Joseph." //United States History//. 2008. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3813.html>. This page discusses his retreat and what it was like after he surrender. 20. Ward, Geoffrey C., and Dayton Duncan. "Fight No More." //New Perspectives on the West//. Prod. Ken Burns and Stephen Ives. Public Broadcast Station. Sept. 1996. IPBS, 2001. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/chiefjoseph.htm>. This publication talks about his roll in leading people out of their homeland. Describes how he got his name and roll in his band. 21. Welker, Glenn. "Chief Joseph, Nez Perce." //Welcome to Indigenous Peoples Literature//. 18 May 2007. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://www.indigenouspeople.net/joseph.htm>. This page consists of numberous peoples writings about the great chief. It reflects further what his people thought of him and what he did for them.