What was Chief Joseph famous quote?

Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt , popularly known as Chief Joseph, Young Joseph, or Joseph the Younger , was a leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain 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 in the early 1870s.

Chief Joseph led his band of Nez Perce during the most tumultuous period in their history, when they were forcibly removed by the United States federal government from their ancestral lands in the Wallowa Valley of northeastern Oregon onto a significantly reduced reservation in the Idaho Territory. A series of violent encounters with white settlers in the spring of 1877 culminated in those Nez Perce who resisted removal, including Joseph's band and an allied band of the Palouse tribe, to flee the United States in an attempt to reach political asylum alongside the Lakota people, who had sought refuge in Canada under the leadership of Sitting Bull.

At least 700 men, women, and children led by Joseph and other Nez Perce chiefs were pursued by the U.S. Army under General Oliver O. Howard in a 1,170-mile fighting retreat known as the Nez Perce War. The skill with which the Nez Perce fought and the manner in which they conducted themselves in the face of incredible adversity earned them widespread admiration from their military opponents and the American public, and coverage of the war in U.S. newspapers led to popular recognition of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce.

In October 1877, after months of fugitive resistance, most of the surviving remnants of Joseph's band were cornered in northern Montana Territory, just 40 miles from the Canadian border. Unable to fight any longer, Chief Joseph surrendered to the Army with the understanding that he and his people would be allowed to return to the reservation in western Idaho. He was instead transported between various forts and reservations on the southern Great Plains before being moved to the Colville Indian Reservation in the state of Washington, where he died in 1904.

Chief Joseph's life remains iconic of the American Indian Wars. For his passionate, principled resistance to his tribe's forced removal, Joseph became renowned as a humanitarian and peacemaker.

Wikipedia

It is cold, and we have no blankets; 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 of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead.

– Chief Joseph

Speech of surrender on October 5th, 1877, at Bear Paw Mountains of Montana.

Chief Joseph was born on 3 March 1840 into the Nez Perce Tribe of Wallowa Valley and died on 21 September 1904.

His native name was 'Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt' which translates to the thunder rolling down the mountain. Chief Joseph is known synonymously as being the heart and soul of the Nez Perce war.

The settlements of the US in the Wallowa Valley were the beginning of confusion and chaos. Many Native Indians were forced to give up their names which are close to losing part of one's identity. Agreements were made with the government to ensure peace However, in 1863 the government forced them to move to Idaho. Not only did they change their names but also were to give up their land. The reason for this was simply the land native to the Nez Perce tribe was considered to possess gold which the U.S. wanted. However, this was extremely unfair to the Nez Perce tribe. Post his father's death, Chief Joseph refused to be forced in such a manner, they felt cheated and dismayed. He organized his group of 200 warriors and planned efficiently for war. The skills Chief Joesph possessed were considered exceptional but he was ultimately forced to surrender to the U.S.

In this article, we will take a look at Chief Joseph quotes based on his life and experience. For more, visit Chief Dan George quotes and Tecumseh quotes.

Equality Quotes By Chief Joseph

The military genius he utilized through warfare was considered commendable and he earned the nickname of 'Red Napolean'. His only aim was to make sure that his tribe sustained. Here are some Chief Joseph quotes on inequality and the importance of equality.

What was Chief Joseph famous quote?

1."The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it."

-Chief Joseph

2."If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace...Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow..."

-Chief Joseph

3."...The great spirit chief who rules above will smile upon this land and send rain to wash out the bloody spots made by brothers hands upon the face of the earth."

-Chief Joseph

4."Whenever the white man treats the Indian as they treat each other, then we shall have no more wars. We shall all be alike, brothers of one father and one mother with one sky above us and one country around us and one government for all."

-Chief Joseph

5."I do not believe that the great spirit chief gave one kind of men the right to tell another kind of men what they must do."

-Chief Joseph  

6."We soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy."

-Chief Joseph

7."Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understand."

-Chief Joseph

8."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."

-Chief Joseph

9."Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake."

-Chief Joseph

10."...It's cold we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills...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 of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me Chiefs"

-Chief Joseph

11."I am not a child. I think for myself. No man can think for me."

-Chief Joseph

12."Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead."

-Chief Joseph

Chief Joseph Nez Perce Quotes On Land

Chief Joseph dedicated his whole life to make sure that their land would stay their own. He even made a promise to his father but was unable to fulfill it. Facts suggest that he died from a broken heart. Take a look at Chief Joseph quotes related to the Nez Perce tribe and other war-related quotes.

13."It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises."

-Chief Joseph

14."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."

-Chief Joseph

15."Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have in my heart. I am tire of fighting. Our chiefs are killed; looking glass is dead...the old men are all dead... 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."

-Chief Joseph

16."We do not want churches. They will teach us to quarrel about God."

-Chief Joseph

17."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  

18."The earth was created by the assistance of the sun, and it should be left as it was. The country was made without lines of demarcation, and it is no man's business to divide it."

-Chief Joseph

19."The earth and myself are of one mind. The measure of land and the measure of our bodies are the same."

-Chief Joseph

20."Good words will not give back my children."

-Chief Joseph

21."I cannot tell you how much my heart suffered for my people while at Leavenworth."

-Chief Joseph

22."The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark."

-Chief Joseph

23."A chief called Lawyer, because he was a great talker, took the lead in the council, and sold nearly all the Nez Perce Country."

-Chief Joseph

Inspirational Chief Joseph Quotes

'Thunder Rolling In The Mountains' written by Scott O' Dell makes mention of Chief Joseph in his book. Here are some inspirational Chief Joseph quotes.

What was Chief Joseph famous quote?

24."You might as well expect rivers to run backward as any man born free to be contented penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases."

-Chief Joseph

25."All men were made by the great spirit Chief. They are all brothers."

-Chief Joseph

26."Good words do not last long unless they amount to something."

-Chief Joseph

27."It does not require many words to speak the truth."

-Chief Joseph

28."I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more."

-Chief Joseph

29."The eye tells what the tongue would hide."

-Chief Joseph

30."Look twice at the two-faced man."

-Chief Joseph

31."Big name often stands on small legs."

-Chief Joseph

32."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."

-Chief Joseph

33."My father was the first to see through the schemes of the white men."

-Chief Joseph

34."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 own  teachers, free to follow my religion of my fathers, free to talk, think, and act for myself- and I will obey every law or submit to the penalty."

 -Chief Joseph

35."A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal."

-Chief Joseph

36."I am tired of talk that comes to nothing."

-Chief Joseph

37."War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war."

-Chief Joseph

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotesfor everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Chief Joseph quotes then why not take a look at John Trudell quotes, or [Native American quotes].

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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 all the broken promises.

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