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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
Peace
White
Country
Would
Men
Thinking
Mistaken
Gave
Alone

More quotes by Chief Joseph

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I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
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I do not believe that the Great Spirit Chief gave one kind of men the right to tell another kind of men what they must do.
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Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.
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I will speak with a straight tongue.
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When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
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Big name often stands on small legs.
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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.
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Good words will not give me back my children.
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My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
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I have asked some of the great white chiefs where they get their authority to say to the Indian that he shall stay in one place, while he sees white men going where they please. They cannot tell me.
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Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
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All people should be treated the same way on earth.
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We gathered all the stock we could find, and made an attempt to move. We left many of our horses and cattle in Wallowa. We lost several hundred in crossing the river.
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We were like deer. They were like grizzly bear.
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Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.
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It does not require many words to speak the truth.
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I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.
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I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.
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I hope that no more groans of wounded men and women will ever go to the ear of the Great Spirit Chief above, and that all people may be one people.
Chief Joseph
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We did not know there were other people besides the Indian until about one hundred winters ago, when some men with white faces came to our country.
Chief Joseph