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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

More quotes by Chief Joseph

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I will speak with a straight tongue.
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All people should be treated the same way on earth.
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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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Our fathers gave us many laws which they had learned from their fathers. These laws were good.
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We do not want churches because they will teach us to quarrel about God. We do not want to learn that. We may quarrel with men sometimes about things on this earth, but we never quarrel about the Great Spirit. We do not want to learn that.
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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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When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
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The Indian race is waiting and praying.
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My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
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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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The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark.
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I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.
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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. It does not require many words to speak the truth.
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I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.
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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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It takes few words to tell 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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We were contented to let things remain as the Great Spirit Chief made them. They were not and would change the rivers and mountains if they did not suit them.
Chief Joseph
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I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.
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