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A painting of Chief Joseph,
of the Nez Perce Indians by Burbank, E. A. (Elbridge Ayer),
artist. c1899. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of
Congress
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Chief Joseph
"An Honorable Leader"
This man is my hero, and someone that I
look up to.
Here's a quote I read that says it all;
"Take a good look at me! I will give you my power;
what I have got. You may think I am nothing!
You may think I am only bones! but I am
alive!"
- words
from a spirit in the vision of a Nez Perce child.
Here are some selected
quotations by Chief Joseph;
"Good words do not last long unless they
amount to something. Words do not pay for my dead people.
They do not pay for my country, now overrun by white men.
They do not protect my father’s grave. They do not pay for
all my horses and cattle. Good words cannot give me back my
children. Good words will not give my people good health and
stop them from dying. Good words will not get my people a
home where they can live in peace and take care of
themselves. I am tired of talk that comes to nothing It
makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and
all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by
men who had no right to talk."
"We do not want
churches because they will teach us to quarrel about God, as
the Catholics and Protestants do. We do not want that."
"All men were made brothers. The earth is
the mother of all people, and all people should have equal
rights upon it. You might as well expect the rivers to run
backward as that any man who was born free should be
contented when penned up and denied liberty to go where he
pleases"
"I believe much trouble and blood would be
saved if we opened our hearts more. I will tell you in my
way how the Indian sees things. The white man has more words
to tell you how they look to him, but is does not require
many words to seek the truth."
"We were taught to believe that the Great
Spirit sees and hears everything, and that he never forgets,
that hereafter he will give every man a spirit home
according to his deserts; If he has been a good man, he will
have a good home; if he has been a bad man, he will have a
bad home. This I believe, and all my people believe the
same."
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Perhaps you think the Creator sent you here
to dispose of us as you see fit. If I thought you were sent
by the Creator, I might be induced to think you had a right
to dispose of me. Do not misunderstand me, but understand
fully with reference to my affection for the land. I never
said the land was mine to do with as I choose. The one who
has a right to dispose of it is the one who has created it.
I claim a right to live on my land and accord you the
privilege to return to yours. Brother, we have listened to
your talk coming from the father in Washington, and my
people have called upon me to reply to you.
And in the winds which pass through these
aged pines, we hear the moaning of their departed ghosts.
And if the voices of our people could have been heard, that
act would never have been done. But alas, though they stood
around, they could
neither be seen nor heard. Their tears fell
like drops of rain. I hear my voice in the depths of the
forest, but no answering voice comes back to me. All is
silent around me. My words must therefore be few. I can say
no more. He is silent, for he has nothing to answer when the
sun goes down.
- Chief Joseph of the Nez
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"The Great Spirit Chief who rules above all
will smile upon this land, and this time the Indian race is
waiting and praying."
- Chief Joseph
Thank you
Sam Silverhawk for the
use of these graphics!
