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I pressed my father's hand and told him I would protect his grave with my life. My father smiled and passed away to the spirit land.

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
Away
Passed
Spirit
Dad
Hands
Tears
Would
Protect
Life
Told
Pressed
Land
Smiled
Hand
Grave
Father
Graves

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General Howard informed me, in a haughty spirit, that he would give my people 30 days to go back home, collect all their stock, and move onto the reservation.
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Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.
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Our chiefs are killed. . . . The little children are freezing to death. . . . My people have no blankets, no food. . . . My heart is sick and sad. . . . I will fight no more forever.
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I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.
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The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.
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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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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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It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.
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I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
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When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
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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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Whenever the white man treats the Indian as they treat each other, then we will have no more wars. We shall all be alike-brothers of one father and one another, with one sky above us and one country around us, and one government for all.
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All people should be treated the same way on earth.
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Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
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I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.
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Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.
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We had a great many horses, of which we gave Lewis and Clark what they needed, and they gave us guns and tobacco in return.
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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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If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace. There need be no trouble. Treat all men alike. give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow.
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I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
Chief Joseph