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My people were divided about surrendering.

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
Surrendering
Divided
People

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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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A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.
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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 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.
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Finest fur may cover toughest meat.
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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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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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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.
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An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
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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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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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Good words will not give me back my children.
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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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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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Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.
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I will speak with a straight tongue.
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I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.
Chief Joseph
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Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
Chief Joseph
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You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
Chief Joseph