The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.
Chief Joseph
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.
It does not require many words to speak the truth.
You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.
Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow.
I believe much trouble would be saved if we opened our hearts more.
I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers.
Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.
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.
From where the sun now stands I will fight no more.
Some of you think an Indian is like a wild animal. This is a great mistake.
I will speak with a straight tongue.
Words do not pay for my dead people.
For a short time we lived quietly. But this could not last. White men had found gold in the mountains around the land of winding water.
If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian he can live in peace.
I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done.
I would give up everything rather than have the blood of white men upon the hands of my people.
I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.
I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.
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.
My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
The Indian race are waiting and praying.
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.
I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.
A man who would not love his father's grave is worse than a wild animal.
I know that my race must change.
It required a strong heart to stand up against such talk, but I urged my people to be quiet and not to begin a war.
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.
The white men told lies for each other. They drove off a great many of our cattle. Some branded our young cattle so they could claim them.
When an Indian fights, he only shoots to kill.
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.
We had good white friends who advised us against taking the war path. My friend and brother, Mr. Chapman, told us just how the war would end.
I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.
When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
War can be avoided, and it ought to be avoided. I want no war.
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.
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.
An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
I want the white people to understand my people.
The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark. They brought many things that our people had never seen. They talked straight. These men were very kind.
I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.
We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.
Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understand.
We soon found that the white men were growing rich very fast, and were greedy.
Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.
I cannot tell how much my heart suffered for my people while at Leavenworth.
