In 1877, the U.S. government ordered members of the Nez Percé 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.

Question

In 1877, the U.S. government ordered members of the Nez Percé 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
If you need extra support, click on the icon between the text. 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 native amercians 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

Answer 1

During this time period, Native Americans were often mistreated and forcibly removed from their lands by the U.S. government. They were faced with violence, displacement, and broken treaties. Native Americans likely felt heartbroken, betrayed, and devastated by the loss of their lands, traditions, and way of life.

If I were one of the chiefs to whom Chief Joseph was speaking, I would likely have agreed with him. The Nez Percé people had endured so much hardship and loss during their attempted escape to Canada. Chief Joseph's speech reflects his exhaustion, sadness, and desire for peace. I would have understood the need to protect our remaining people and would have supported his decision to stop fighting in order to ensure the survival of our tribe.