I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition. – Chief Joseph
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. – Chief Joseph
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. – Chief Joseph
Our people could not talk with these white-faced men, but they used signs which all people understand. – Chief Joseph
The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. – Chief Joseph
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. – Chief Joseph
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. – Chief Joseph
Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow. – Chief Joseph
Governor Isaac Stevens of the Washington Territory said there were a great many white people in our country, and many more would come; that he wanted the land marked out so that the Indians and the white man could be separated. – Chief Joseph
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. – Chief Joseph
A chief called Lawyer, because he was a great talker, took the lead in the council, and sold nearly all the Nez Perce country. – Chief Joseph
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. – Chief Joseph
Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country. – Chief Joseph