The Nez
Perce tribe had a great leader.
His name was In-mut-too-yah-lat-lat.
That
means “Thunder Travelling Over the Mountains.” Most people know
this leader by his English name, Chief Joseph.
Chief Joseph was leader during a very hard time
for his people. In 1877, the government wanted all Nez Perce people to
live on a reservation. The reservation was very small. It was only a tiny
part of the Nez Perce homeland. Chief Joseph and his people did not want
to live there. They wanted to live in freedom where they had always lived.
The government would not give in. They warned Chief Joseph that an army
would make them move to the reservation. So, Chief Joseph and his
people decided to go to Canada. They thought that they could live free
there. They traveled many miles, over the mountains through the snow.
All the time, the army was chasing after them. Battles were fought. Many
people died on both sides. After many months, Chief Joseph knew that his
people could not make it to Canada. The trip and the fighting were too
hard on them. So they surrendered to the army and were no longer free.
After that, they were forced to live on a reservation.
In 1879, Chief Joseph traveled to Washington, D.C. There he met with leaders
of our government. He also met with some newspaper reporters. He told
them the sad story of his people. |
