"FROM WHERE THE SUN NOW STANDS, I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER"

CHIEF JOSEPH DIES ON COLVILLE RESERVATION

Colville Reservation (JFK+50) On September 21, 1904, Chief Joseph*, the Nez Perce chief who once led his people in an attempt to escape the United States Army and the reservation, died here at the Colville Reservation in Washington State.  Chief Joseph was 64 years old.

The Nez Perce traveled 1170 miles in 3 months before they were cut off in their attempt to reach Canada by a U.S. Army force led by Col. Nelson Miles.  On the day of his surrender, October 5, 1877, Chief Joseph said...

"I am tired of fighting. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more, forever."

*Chief Joseph, a.k.a. Hinmatoowyalahtqit (1840-1904) was born in the Wallow Valley of Oregon.  His name translates into "Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain."  Joseph succeeded his father as Chief in 1871.

Chief Joseph (1877)

Photo by O.S. Goff

"I WILL FIGHT NO MORE, FOREVER!"

NEZ PERCE CHIEF JOSEPH DIES ON RESERVATION

Colville Reservation, Washington (JFK+50) Chief Joseph*, who once led his people in an attempt to escape the United States Army, died at age 64 of heart failure on September 21, 1904 here at the Colville Reservation.**

Chief Joseph and his Nez Perce tribe were considered"non-treaty" Native Americans. The Chief counseled his people to avoid violence against whites despite wrong-doings against them.

Joseph led his people on a 1170 mile journey in an attempt to avoid capture by the US Army and removal to the reservation.  The Nez Perce were pursued by General O.O. Howard and cut off from escape into Canada just 40 miles from the border in Montana.

Forced then to surrender, Chief Joseph said...

"Hear me my chiefs. I am tired of fighting. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more, forever."

*Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, a.k.a. Chief Joseph (1840-1904) was born in the Wallowa Valley of northeastern Oregon.  CJ succeeded his father as chief of the Nez Perce in 1871 & negotiated with the US government for the right of his people to remain in the Wallowa Valley "for as long as the grass shall grow."

**The Colville Reservation is located in north central Washington state.  It was established in 1872 & consists of 2.825 million acres of land.  Many of the young people of the reservation go on to attend Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Gonzaga and the University of Washington.

Chief Joseph 

Photo by O.S. Goff

Bismarck, S.D.

Courtesy of Dr. James Brust

CHIEF JOSEPH SURRENDERS

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1734

"I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER": CHIEF JOSEPH SURRENDERS

Chinook, Montana (JFK+50) A century and thirty-eight years ago today, October 5, 1877, Joseph, chief of the Nez Perce tribe, surrendered to United States Army General Nelson Appleton Miles here in the Montana territory.

The Nez Perce had been ordered out of their homeland in the Wallowa Valley of Oregon and when Chief Joseph learned that a small group of his warriors had, against his orders, massacred whites, he decided to lead his people to freedom in Canada.

Joseph's band of 300 traveled more than one-thousand miles while being pursued by 2000 soldiers of the US Army.  When the Chief learned that he was surrounded just forty miles from the US-Canadian border, he made the decision to surrender.

Joseph held his rifle in the air, dropped it on the ground, and said...

"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."

Joseph and his people were marched back to a reservation in Idaho where the Chief died in 1904.  His doctor gave the cause of death as "a broken heart."

*Hinmahtooyahlatkekt, a.k.a. Chief Joseph (1840-1904) was born in the Wallowa Valley of Oregon.  His name means "Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain."  Although his people suffered at the hands of white settlers, Chief Joseph refused to support violence against them.

James Stuart, Chief Joseph & Alice Cunningham Fletcher

Nez Perce Reservation, Idaho Territory (1889)