In 1877, the U.S. government ordered members of the Nez Percé Nation to move off their lands in western Oregon onto a reservatio
n in Idaho. Instead, about 800 Nez Percés tried to escape to Canada. This group included Hin-mah-too-yah-latkekt, more commonly known as Chief Joseph. The Nez Percé traveled over 1,500 miles of mountainous terrain in their attempt to escape. They fought many battles with pursuing U.S. troops, only to be halted just 40 miles from the safety of the Canadian border. On October 5, the exhausted survivors surrendered. Chief Joseph’s speech has become a famous symbol of the resistance and conquest of Native Americans in the West. If you need extra support, click on the icon between the text. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohulhulsote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led the young men is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are—perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. 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. Using your knowledge from the text and Chief JoseAmericans during this time period? How might many Native Americans have felt? Do you think you would have agreed with Chief Joseph if you were one of the chiefs to whom he was speaking? Why or why not?ph’s speech, what can be said about the treatment of Native Please help me I need help now
I can compare their situation to a scenario wherein the house you've lived your entire life is being foreclosed and you have no other recourse but to become homeless and be subjected to the elements of nature.
The Native Americans first felt that they have no choice but to move from their land but they have a choice on where they will end up with. However, their escape is fraught with fighting and death against the US troops. Animals were treated better than they were at that time. And if they were not fighting against the US troops, they were battling against the forces of nature that is beyond their control. With no hope in sight, it is then decided to stop fighting and hope that those who lived will settle in a life that they are comfortable with.
