Dates

• Existence: 1840 - 1904

Biographical History

Chief Joseph (1840-1904) was a Nez Perce chief, military retreatist, and spokesperson.

Chief Joseph was born Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt (literally, "Thunder Rolling Down a Mountain") in Wallowa Valley, Oregon Territory. He was known as Joseph because this was the Christian name which his father took after baptism. He succeeded his father, Joseph the Elder, as a chief when his father died in 1871. After becoming chief, he, along with Chiefs Looking Glass and White Bird, at first refused to follow United States directives to resettle in Idaho, but later capitulated in 1877 and decided to relocate with his tribe.

Before the tribe was able to relocate, however, some of Chief White Bird's warriors and attacked and killed some white settlers. To avoid a more violent conflict, Chief Joseph led a retreat to Canada. This trek had some 700 followers (200 of which were warriors) for 1,400 miles. This retreat included several skirmishes with United States forces, who totaled around 2,000. His retreat was unsuccessful in the end; he surrendered on October 5, 1877, about 40 miles from the Canadian border.

He died September 21, 1904 in the Colville Indian Reservation, Washington. Throughout his life, he spoke against the injustice that United States policies had done to his people.

Citation:

Biography.com, via WWW, November 14, 2017 (b. 3 Mar 1840 in Wallowa Valley, Oregon Territory; d. 21 Sep 1904 Colville Indian Reservation, WA; Nez Perce chief, military retreatist; born Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, lit. "Thunder Rolling Down a Mountain"; refused, with Chiefs Looking Glass and White Bird, resettlement demands from the United States Government until 1877; in 1877 before resettlement was actually carried out, some of Chief White Bird's warriors attacked and killed some white settlers, which led Chief Joseph to lead a retreat to Canada in order to avoid violence; his 1,400-mile retreat to Canada included 700 followers, 200 of which were warriors; his retreat included several skirmishes with US forces, with some 2,000 US soldiers; his march ended 40 miles from the Canadian border with his surrender)

PBS, New Perspectives on the West: Chief Joseph, via WWW, November 13, 2017 (known as Joseph because father took this Christian name when baptized; succeeded his father, Joseph the Elder, as a chief when his father died in 1871; formally surrendered his retreat on 5 Oct 1877; spoke throughout his life against the injustice of the United States against his people)

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