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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.

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
Fighting
Freezing
Death
Blanket
Littles
Chiefs
Little
Killed
Children
Sick
Heart
Fight
People
Food
Forever
Blankets

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Finest fur may cover toughest meat.
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We ask only that the law shall work alike on all men.
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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 labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.
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I only ask of the Government to be treated as all other men are treated. If I cannot go to my own home, let me have a home in a country where my people will not die so fast.
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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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You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
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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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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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My people were divided about surrendering.
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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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Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow.
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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 takes few words to tell the truth.
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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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When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
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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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Big name often stands on small legs.
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An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
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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.
Chief Joseph