"I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohulhulsote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led the young men is dead.
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 I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the 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."
Using your knowledge from the text and Chief Joseph’s speech, what can be said about the treatment of Native Americans during this time period? How might many Native Americans have felt? Do you think you would have agreed with Chief Joseph if you were one of the chiefs to whom he was speaking? Why or why not?
During this time period, Native Americans were treated unfairly and faced great injustices at the hands of the US government, including broken treaties, forced relocations, and violent conflicts. Many Native Americans felt betrayed, oppressed, and hopeless in the face of the overwhelming power of the US military and government.
If I were one of the chiefs to whom Chief Joseph was speaking, I believe I would have agreed with him. Chief Joseph’s speech reflects his deep sorrow and exhaustion after years of fighting against impossible odds. His words convey a sense of resignation and a desire for peace, as he realizes the futility of continuing the fight against the encroachment of white settlers and the US military.
Chief Joseph’s speech is a powerful expression of the suffering and hardship endured by Native Americans during this time period. It serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of colonization and imperialism on indigenous peoples, and the resilience and courage of those who fought to protect their lands and way of life.