Chief Joseph - Nez Perce Leader, Career and Family

Chief Joseph was born as Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt into the family of Chief Joseph the Elder, the leader of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce tribe in Oregon. His father’s name was Tuekakas and his mother’s name was Khapkhaponimi. He had several brothers and sisters.

His father converted into Christianity and took up the name Joseph after being baptized in 1838. The son was also named after the father.

Not much is known of his childhood as it was spent in the tribal territories. As the son of a tribal leader he is sure to have received training in warfare and guidance on the tribal ways of life from his fathers and the other elders, though it is not known if he ever received any formal education.

His father attempted to maintain good relations with the whites, often going out of his way to do so.

His father signed a treaty with the U.S government in 1855 that promised a new reservation for the Nez Perce. But the government violated the treaty and whites began to occupy the tribes’ lands.

In 1863, the government tried to make the Nez Perce accept a much smaller reservation than what was agreed upon earlier. Joseph the Elder refused this treaty, called the ‘Lapwai Treaty’.

However some of the bands of the Nez Perce accepted the treaty and moved into the reservation. But Chief Joseph the Elder was adamant in his resolve: his band would not leave their motherland.

In 1871, Chief Joseph the Elder died and his son became the leader. The period was marked by very turbulent relations between the government and the tribes.

The Army tried to force the remaining members of the Nez Perce tribe to move themselves to the Lapwai Reservation in early 1877. The tribes reluctantly agreed in order to avoid any violence.

Violence erupted in spite of the Chief’s best efforts to avoid it: some tribal men killed and injured whites in an act of revenge, making a war with the U.S. Army inevitable.

Chief Joseph, along with the other important Nez Perce chiefs, White Bird and Looking Glass decided to lead their followers, estimated to have numbered between 700 and 1000, on a retreat towards Canada.

General Oliver Howard led the U.S. Army in the attack on the tribes, which came to be known as the Nez Perce War. The army faced a surprising defeat at the hands of the tribes in the opening battle.

Over the next few months, the Nez Perce bravely carried on their march, taking with them whatever belongings they could probably carry. They covered over 1100 miles of rough terrains across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, while valiantly fighting off their pursuers who greatly outnumbered them.

A fierce five-day battle took place which wiped out most of the tribal warriors. Many great heroes of the war, including the Chief’s brother was killed. All their food and clothing reserves were depleted. The physical and mental toll of the war was too much for the Chief to continue.

Chief Joseph formally surrendered to the U.S. Army on 5 October 1877 in the Bear Paw Mountains, hardly 40 miles away from his destination. The touching speech which he gave at his surrender won him the admiration and respect of the U.S Army and the general public.

The Nez Perce war was covered in depth by the media, and the Chief and his tribe were much appreciated for the courage and bravery they had shown in attempting the retreat. His valour earned him the name ‘Red Napoleon’.

He met the President in 1879 to plead the case of his people but was not granted his petition. He along with his remaining tribe members were shifted to the Colville Indian Reservation, away from his homeland.

Chief Joseph is most famous for his role in leading his followers in the Nez Perce War against the U.S. Army in 1877. He along with the other chiefs, White Bird and Looking Glass courageously fought the army while guiding the followers on a march towards Canada.

He had many wives and children as was the custom of the tribes. Two of his better known wives were Heyoon and Springtime.

He died on 21 September 1904 aged 64 while living in the Colville Indian Reservation. His doctor stated that he died of a “broken heart”.

The literal meaning of his name in his native language was “Thunder Rolling down the Mountain".

The Chief Joseph Scenic Highway in Wyoming, named in his honour, traces the route followed by the Chief and his tribes on their march towards Canada.

A television movie based on his life, titled, ‘I Will Fight No More Forever’ was made in 1975.