"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?
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The treatment of Native Americans during this time period was unjust and brutal. They were subjected to displacement, violence, and loss of their traditional way of life. Many Native Americans would have felt oppressed, marginalized, and powerless in the face of overwhelming force from the US government.
If I were one of the chiefs to whom Chief Joseph was speaking, I believe I would have agreed with him. The situation was dire and it was clear that further resistance would only lead to more suffering and loss of life. Chief Joseph's decision to stop fighting was a brave and wise choice in the face of overwhelming odds. It showed a willingness to prioritize the survival and well-being of his people above all else.