Chief Joseph was the leader of the Indian tribe Nez Perce. He was a supporter of peaceful relations with the Americans, but entered the history of the 19th century as one of the greatest military leaders of the Indians of North America.

After the death of his father in 1871, Joseph became a leader. In 1877, the government, under pressure from white settlers and gold miners, decided to evict the remaining Nez Perce in Idaho in the Wallow Valley. The task was entrusted to US Army General Oliver Howard. The general met with Joseph and other Nez Perce leaders in order to try to reach a peaceful settlement. But the negotiations were disrupted by a clash between several young Indians and some white settlers, with both sides suffering losses. Oliver Howard decided to act by force and began to prepare for a war with the Indians, which became known as the Nez Perce War.

He was defeated, but American military commander Nelson Miles promised the people of Joseph that they would be returned to Idaho to reserve the tribe, but the US government sent them to the Native American Territory. Chief Joseph traveled to Washington twice and did everything to help his people return to the north.

In 1897, Chief Joseph observed that white settlers began to settle on the free lands of the Colville Reservation. Local authorities did not pay attention to this, and he went to Washington. In the U.S. capital, he described the situation to President William McKinley and met with Nelson Miles and Oliver Howard, and in the late winter of 1903, Joseph again took a trip east and, accompanied by General Miles, met with President Theodore Roosevelt.

Chief Joseph died on September 21, 1904 at Colville Reservation, and on June 20, 1905 his remains were solemnly reburied.

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