Introduction (Use with discussion in 2.7.9)
In 1877, the U.S. government ordered members of the Nez Perce Nation to move off their lands in western Oregon onto a reservation in Idaho. Instead, about 800 Nez Percés tried to escape to Canada. This group included Hin-mah-too-yah-latkekt, more commonly known as Chief Joseph.
The Nez Percé traveled over 1,500 miles of mountainous terrain in their attempt to escape. They fought many battles with pursuing U.S. troops, only to be halted just 40 miles from the safety of the Canadian border. On October 5, the exhausted survivors surrendered. Chief Joseph's speech has become a famous symbol of the resistance and conquest of Native Americans in the West.
Primary Source
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.
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 no?
• Be sure to quote evidence from the speech to support your response. Use the Claim, Evidence and Reasoning format to respond to the prompt.
During this time period, the treatment of Native Americans can be described as unjust and oppressive. Many Native Americans, including Chief Joseph, were forcibly removed from their lands and placed onto reservations. They were subjected to harsh living conditions, including a lack of basic necessities such as blankets and food. The government's actions caused suffering and death among the Native American communities.
It is likely that many Native Americans felt a sense of betrayal, as their lands were taken from them and their way of life disrupted. Chief Joseph's speech reflects the despair and devastation experienced by his people. He expresses the loss of their leaders and the struggles faced by their community, particularly the freezing and starvation of their children.
I believe that I would have agreed with Chief Joseph if I were one of the chiefs to whom he was speaking. The evidence from his speech supports his decision to no longer fight. He speaks of the exhaustion and sadness in his heart, as well as the desperation to find his own children who may have perished. Chief Joseph recognizes the futility of continuing to fight against a superior force and chooses to prioritize the survival and wellbeing of his people. This decision shows wisdom and compassion in the face of immense adversity.