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We gave up some of our country to the white men, thinking that then we could have peace. We were mistaken. The white man would not let us alone.

Chief Joseph

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Chief Joseph
Age: 64 †
Born: 1840
Born: March 3
Died: 1904
Died: September 21
Tribal Chief
Wallowa Valley
Joseph Buruzagia
Hin-mut-too-uah-lat-kekht
Thunder Rolling in the Mountains
Heinmot Tooyalaket
Joseph the Younger
Gave
Alone
Peace
White
Country
Would
Men
Thinking
Mistaken

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Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.
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It does not require many words to speak the truth.
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If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian he can live in peace.
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My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
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The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark.
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You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
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We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men.
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Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.
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Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.
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My people were divided about surrendering.
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When the last deer disappears into the morning mist, When the last elk vanishes from the hills, When the last buffalo falls on the plains, I will hunt mice for I am a hunter and I must have my freedom.
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We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.
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From where the sun now stands I will fight no more.
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I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
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An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
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The earth is our mother. She should not be disturbed by hoe or plough. We want only to subsist on what she freely gives us.
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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 content when penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases.
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It takes few words to tell the truth.
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