Chief Joseph Thesis

Chief Joseph, or by his given name Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, or “Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain” was a Native American born in 1840. He was a member of a tribe called the Wallowa Band of the Nez Percé. The Nez Percé people and the whites were familiar each other before Joseph was born. The tribe’s first encounter with the Lewis and Clark Expedition was positive; and they enjoyed great relations with white people. When Joseph was young, the Nez Percé tribe had totaled over hundred and they lived a peaceful life. Growing up he would feel the effects of white settlers as they moved in their land.
After the death of Joseph father, he became Chief of the Nez Perce tribe. In 1877, he and his people were ordered to a reservation by a General named Oliver Howard. When the Nez tribe declined to go, Joesph attempted to lead 800 his people to Canada, while fighting the U.S. Army all along the way. They were finally trapped just within reach of Canada after a final battle in which afterwards they surrendered. After his surrender, the Nez Percé tribe were taken into

custody and exiled from their land.
On January 1879, Joseph was able to go to Washington to discuss the current state of Indian Affairs.

In his speech Chief Joseph, express his discontent about the treatment of his people and the terms of his surrender not being satisfied. The main point of his speech was the lack of equality for his people and wanted to get back to his land to live in peace. In Washington Joseph was able to present his circumstance to congress, and offer a description of Nez Percé past and their dealing at the hands of the Americans settlers. For the rest of his life, Joseph tried; however was ineffective in convincing the federal authorities to allow him and others to reclaim their land where most of his people have been laid to rest. Joseph was nonstop in fighting for his people to get back to their land, however; were permitted to relocate to a reservation in the Pacific Northwest, which was still always from their

homeland.
Joseph and his remaining tribe still stayed faithful the old ways of living and thus were to be exiled to the Colville Reservation. The chief was able to live out the rest of his life and continue to speak on behalf of his people on multiple occasion. Joseph was provided a log cabin; however, favored living in teepees while pursuing a simpler way of life and following old traditional beliefs. He and his tribe unfortunately were permanent inhabitants of the Colville Reservation. September 21, 1904 Chief Joseph had passed away by himself, after aiding his people all his adult life. A doctor at the time had listed reason of death as a broken heart. His remains were buried in the cemetery on the Colville Reservation.