- Native American name:
- In-mut-too-yah-lat-lat
- Born:
- c. 1840, Wallowa Valley, Oregon Territory
- Died:
- September 21, 1904, Colville Reservation, Washington, U.S.
Chief Joseph
-
Who was Chief Joseph?
Chief Joseph (c. 1840â1904) was a Nez PercĂ© chief who led his people in a dramatic attempt to escape to Canada when the U.S. government tried to force them onto a reservation in Idaho in 1877.
For over three months, Chief Joseph led 200â300 warriors and their families on a 1,600â1,700 mile retreat across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, outmaneuvering and defeating troops that outnumbered them. Admired by many for his humane treatment, he surrendered to Gen. Nelson A. Miles in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana on October 5, 1877, with a memorable speech:
Hear me, my chiefs; my heart is sick and sad. From where the Sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.
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Which Native American tribe did Chief Joseph lead?
Chief Joseph, born in the Wallowa Valley of Oregon around 1840, was a leader of the Nez Percé tribe, a prominent group in the Pacific Northwest. The U.S. government's attempt to force the Nez Percé onto a reservation in Idaho led Chief Joseph and a small band of warriors and their families to flee toward Canada. For over three months, they traveled through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, skillfully avoiding the pursuing U.S. Army troops. In 1877, they surrendered in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana, near the Canadian border.
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Why is Chief Joseph famous in American history?
Chief Joseph of the Nez PercĂ© is remembered for his leadership during a pivotal moment of conflict with the U.S. government. In 1877, when the U.S. tried to force the Nez PercĂ© onto a reservation in Idaho, Chief Joseph, despite initial reluctance, led his people on a dramatic 1,600â1,700 mile retreat toward Canada.
For over three months, he skillfully evaded and sometimes defeated the pursuing U.S. troops, who greatly outnumbered his warriors. His humane treatment of prisoners and concern for non-combatants earned him admiration, even among his adversaries. Though ultimately forced to surrender near the Canadian border, his eloquent speech at the surrender, including the line, "From where the Sun now stands, I will fight no more forever," resonated deeply and cemented his place in history as a symbol of resistance and integrity.
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What happened during the Nez Percé flight led by Chief Joseph?
In 1877, the U.S. government tried to force the Nez Percé, including Chief Joseph, to move to a reservation in Idaho. After some young Nez Percé men massacred white settlers, fearing U.S. Army retaliation, Chief Joseph led about 200-300 warriors and their families toward Canada.
For over three months, Chief Joseph led his people on a 1,600 to 1,700-mile retreat across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, outmaneuvering and defeating the pursuing troops. Admired for their humane treatment of prisoners and concern for non-combatants, they bought supplies instead of stealing them.
However, they were surrounded in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana, 40 miles from Canada. On October 5, Chief Joseph surrendered to Gen. Nelson A. Miles. The Nez Percé were sent to Oklahoma before being allowed to a reservation in Washington.
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How did Chief Joseph try to achieve peace for his people?
Chief Joseph, a Nez Percé chief, strived to secure peace for his people amidst white settlement of tribal lands in Oregon. Although he initially agreed to relocate to a reservation in Idaho in 1877, fear of U.S. Army retaliation after settlers were massacred led him to lead his people towards Canada.
During their retreat, Chief Joseph was known for his humane treatment of prisoners and concern for women, children, and the elderly. He also attempted to maintain peace by purchasing supplies from ranchers and storekeepers rather than stealing them. Despite his efforts, the Nez Percé were eventually surrounded and forced to surrender.
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What impact did Chief Joseph have on the history of Native Americans and U.S. government relations?
Chief Joseph, a Nez PercĂ© chief, significantly impacted Native American and U.S. government relations through his resistance to U.S. settlement policies. In 1877, when the U.S. tried to force the Nez PercĂ© onto a reservation in Idaho, Chief Joseph led his people on a 1,600â1,700 mile retreat toward Canada.
Though ultimately forced to surrender, Chief Joseph earned admiration from many for his humane treatment of prisoners and concern for his people. His surrender speech resonated widely, and he later traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for his people's return to their homeland. Although he was unsuccessful, his actions highlighted the injustices faced by Native Americans and the consequences of U.S. expansionist policies.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Chief Joseph (born c. 1840, Wallowa Valley, Oregon Territoryâdied September 21, 1904, Colville Reservation, Washington, U.S.) was a Nez PercĂ© chief who, faced with settlement by whites of tribal lands in Oregon, led his followers in a dramatic effort to escape to Canada.
The Nez PercĂ© tribe was one of the most powerful in the Pacific Northwest and in the first half of the 19th century one of the most friendly to whites. Many Nez PercĂ©, including Chief Josephâs father, were converted to Christianity and Chief Joseph was educated in a mission school. The advance of white settlers into the Pacific Northwest after 1850 caused the United States to press the Native Americans of the region to surrender their lands and accept resettlement on small and often unattractive reservations. Some Nez PercĂ© chiefs, including Chief Josephâs father, questioned the validity of treaties pertaining to their lands negotiated in 1855 and 1863 on the ground that the chiefs who participated in the negotiations did not represent their tribe.
When the United States attempted in 1877 to force the dissenting Nez Percé to move to a reservation in Idaho, Chief Joseph, who had succeeded his father in 1871, reluctantly agreed. While he was preparing for the removal, however, he learned that a trio of young men had massacred a band of white settlers and prospectors; fearing retaliation by the U.S. army, he decided instead to lead his small body of followers (some 200 to 300 warriors and their families) on a long trek to Canada.
For more than three months (June 17âSeptember 30, 1877), Chief Joseph led his followers on a retreat of about 1,600â1,700 miles (2,575â2,735 km) across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, outmaneuvering the pursuing troops, which outnumbered Josephâs warriors by a ratio of at least ten to one, and several times defeating them in actual combat. During the long retreat, he won the admiration of many whites by his humane treatment of prisoners, his concern for women, children, and the aged, and also because he purchased supplies from ranchers and storekeepers rather than stealing them.
The Nez Percé were finally surrounded in the Bear Paw mountains of Montana, within 40 miles (64 km) of the Canadian border. On October 5 Chief Joseph surrendered to Gen. Nelson A. Miles, delivering an eloquent speech that was long remembered:
Hear me, my chiefs; my heart is sick and sad. From where the Sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.
Chief Joseph and his band were sent at first to a barren reservation in Indian Territory (later Oklahoma); there many sickened and died. Not until 1885 were he and the remnants of his tribe allowed to go to a reservation in Washingtonâthough still in exile from their valley. Meanwhile, Chief Joseph had made two trips to Washington, D.C., where, presented to Pres. Theodore Roosevelt, he pleaded for the return of his people to their ancestral home. See also Nez PercĂ©.
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