Chief Joseph

Chief Joseph was a great leader for his people. He was the chief of the Nez Pierce Indians. This nation was located in Idaho and parts of Northern Washington. They were a peaceful nation and maintained good relations with the whites after Lewis and Clark came through on their expeditions. Much of his childhood was spent at a mission run by Christian missionaries.

In 1855, Chief Joseph’s father signed a treaty with the United States government. The treaty said that the Nez Pierce were allowed to keep much of their traditional lands. But by 1863, another treaty greatly reduced the amount of land they would own. When Chief Joseph assumed his role as chief in 1877, he challenged the U.S. government on the second treaty. It was stated that the Nez Pierce people never agreed to this treaty.

Months and months of fierce fighting took place before the Nez Pierce people were forced to leave for a reservation in what is now known as Oklahoma. Many of the Nez Pierce people died of malaria and starvation. Chief Joseph tried every possible means to change the minds of the U.S. government, but to no avail. Joseph was eventually sent to a reservation in Washington, where legend says that he died of a broken heart.

Additional information based on recent sources: Chief Joseph was a leader of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce Tribe and led his people on a famous retreat across the Rocky Mountains in 1877. The Nez Perce originally lived in the Wallowa Valley in Oregon, near Idaho.