Chief Joseph Quotes

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Chief Joseph

Profession : Leader

Birth : March 3, 1840

I would give up everything rather than have the blood of white men upon the hands of my people.

Chief Joseph

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

Words do not pay for my dead people.

Chief Joseph

Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.

Chief Joseph

I will speak with a straight tongue.

Chief Joseph

We ask to be recognized as men.

Chief Joseph

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

Chief Joseph

I want the white people to understand my people.

Chief Joseph

The Indian race are waiting and praying.

Chief Joseph

I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.

Chief Joseph

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.

Chief Joseph

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

Chief Joseph

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

Chief Joseph

My people were divided about surrendering.

Chief Joseph

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

Chief Joseph

We did not know there were other people besides the Indian until about one hundred winters ago, when some men with white faces came to our country.

Chief Joseph

The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark. They brought many things that our people had never seen. They talked straight. These men were very kind.

Chief Joseph

We had a great many horses, of which we gave Lewis and Clark what they needed, and they gave us guns and tobacco in return.

Chief Joseph

Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.

Chief Joseph

The white men told lies for each other. They drove off a great many of our cattle. Some branded our young cattle so they could claim them.

Chief Joseph