NATIVE AMERICANS “I Will Fight No More Forever” All his life, Chief Joseph worked to keep peace. In 1877, he faced his toughest challenge. Could his people avoid war? CHARACTERS Tuekakas, Nez Perce leader Joseph, his oldest son Ollokot, one of Joseph’s brothers Sound of Running Feet, Joseph’s daughter aside for the exclusive use of the *Cuthbert Wynn PROLOGUE white settlers *Nora Smithers} Narrator A: For many generations, Nez Perce. But in 1863, after gold *Bart Bryant, newspaper reporter the Nez Perce (nez purse) Indians was discovered on the reservation, Oliver Howard, U.S. Army general lived where the modern-day states the government insisted that the Toohoolhoolzote, Nez Perce leader of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington Nez Perce sign a new treaty. It Two Moons, Nez Perce warrior meet. They were nomads skilled required the Nez Perce to surrender Narrators A-E at breeding horses. When only almost 6 million acres of the land a few whites came into their once promised to them. Some *Indicates a fictional character. All others area, the Nez Perce greeted them signed, but most refused. were real people. Passages in quotation marks are the speaker’s actual words. with hospitality. But settlers kept coming, many with an eye on the SCENE 1: 1871 rich grazing land of the Nez Perce. Narrator C: In 1871, on Nez Narrator B: In 1855, the U.S. Perce land in the Wallowa Valley WORDS TO KNOW government persuaded Nez Perce (northeastern Oregon), an old man U band (n): a small group of close- leaders to sign a treaty. In exchange named Tuekakas lies close to death. SS E R for the Nez Perce’s giving up some He sends for Joseph, his oldest son. NG knit people O F C O U nomads (n): people who roam from of their land, the treaty established Tuekakas: Where are you, my son? Y R A R IB place to place a reservation—an area of land set Joseph: Father, I am here. L 1 ONLINE-ONLY PLAY/JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC In this illustration, Chief Joseph surrenders to the U.S. Army. Tuekakas: “My spirit is going very Joseph: Surely whites want peace move and, in 1875, Grant cancels soon to see the Great Spirit. too. There must be room for all of his order. The government expects A few years more and white men us in this country. the Nez Perce to move to a smaller will be all around you. My son, reservation, but they won’t leave never forget my dying words. This SCENE 2: 1873-1876 the land promised them. Tensions country holds your father’s body. Narrator E: Still more white increase between the Nez Perce and Never sell the bones of your father settlers arrive. Joseph complains to the settlers. In 1876 . and your mother.” officials, including President Ulysses Cuthbert Wynn: You planning to Joseph: Father, I will protect your S. Grant. In 1873 . leave, Miss Smithers? I hear there’s grave with my life. Sound of Running Feet: Father! going to be a war. Narrator D: Tuekakas dies, and I’ve heard that a message came to Nora Smithers: I’ve heard those Joseph and his brothers bury you from the white leader Grant. rumors. What do you know about him in the Wallowa Valley. Soon What did it say? this, newspaperman? afterward . Joseph (exclaiming happily): He Bart Bryant: There could be Ollokot (to Joseph): The white has ordered the settlers to withdraw trouble. Two guys named Findley people want our land. How do you from our land! and McNall killed a young Indian. expect to keep your vow to never Narrator A: But Joseph’s joy is They said he’d been stealing. sell our parents’ bones? short-lived. Some settlers refuse to Wynn: We heard that Chief Joseph ONLINE-ONLY PLAY/JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC 2 “A few years more and white men will On June 17, six Nez Perce emerge from the hills, waving a flag of be all around you. My son, never truce. Just then a soldier fires. One forget my dying words.” —TUEKAKAS of the Nez Perce fires back, and fighting breaks out. When the battle calmed down some revenge-hungry Toohoolhoolzote arrested. Days is over . warriors, then went to demand that later, Toohoolhoolzote is sent Sound of Running Feet: Father, Findley and McNall be punished. home with a message: If the Nez why do you look so sad? Today Bryant: He did, but they’re still Perce have not withdrawn to the was a victory: 33 soldiers are dead free. The settlers are afraid. They’ve reservation in 30 days, the U.S. and seven are wounded; for us, asked the Army to protect them Army will move them by force. no one is dead and only three are from the Indians. Federal officials wounded! decided the best thing to do was SCENE 4: 1877 Joseph: You don’t understand. to order the Nez Perce onto the Narrator D: Toohoolhoolzote and This is just the beginning. smaller reservation. others want to stand their ground Narrator B: He’s right. The Army Smithers: Are they going? and fight, but Joseph convinces strikes back, attacking Nez Perce Bryant: That’s what I’ll find out. them to keep the peace and leave. women and children. Instead of I’m on my way to talk to General It’s a hard journey, but by early going to the new reservation, Chief Oliver Howard. He’s in charge of June, they’ve almost reached the Joseph and his people continue moving them. new reservation. While the others eastward, looking for a safe place set up camp, Joseph and some men to hide in the Bitterroot Mountains. SCENE 3: 1877 leave to collect food. They return a But in August, dozens of Nez Perce Narrator B: Nez Perce leaders few days later. are killed in another battle. refuse to move. They meet with Two Moons (running up in a Ollokot: So many brave warriors Howard in May 1877. panic): Chief Joseph! It’s war! dead! Your wife killed! I weep for General Oliver Howard: You Joseph: What do you mean? your wife. people were ordered onto the new Two Moons: Some of our men went Joseph: As I weep for yours. How reservation by April 1. You haven’t to the Salmon River settlement, is she? moved—you just keep asking to seeking revenge. They killed four Ollokot: We doubt she’ll live out talk about it. Well, here I am. Talk. white people. Now our people are the week. Joseph: “Do not misunderstand panicked. They’re afraid that the Joseph: We have to go north. If me. I never said that [this] land soldiers will come and kill us all! we can get across the border into was mine to do [with] as I chose. Joseph (calling out to his people): Canada, we’ll be safe. Our friends The [only] one who has a right to Remain calm. General Howard is there will take us in. dispose of it is the one who has reasonable. He wouldn’t punish all created it. I claim a right to live of us for the crimes of a few. SCENE 6: 1877 on my land, and accord you the Toohoolhoolzote: It’s too late. Narrator C: The Nez Perce press privilege to live on yours.” Narrator E: Most Nez Perce flee, on, fighting whenever troops catch Howard: The U.S. government but Joseph decides to appeal to up with them. On September 30, says that you must live on the General Howard for peace. But the they are in the Bear Paw Mountains, reservation. From now on, that is Army is already pursuing the Nez near the Canadian border. There your land! Perce. When soldiers fire on his is yet another clash. This time, Toohoolhoolzote (getting angry): people that night, Joseph and his Ollokot and Toohoolhoolzote are “I belong to the land from which I band join the others in flight. among the dead. Joseph can take came. The earth is my mother.” no more. Howard: Face the facts! I have SCENE 5: 1877 Joseph (to the surviving leaders): orders to move you. Narrator A: The Nez Perce head for “The women are suffering with Narrator C: The meeting ends White Bird Canyon, near the new cold, the children are crying with in an uproar. Howard has reservation, but the Army follows. the chilling dampness of the shelter 3 ONLINE-ONLY PLAY/JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC LEWIS AND CLARK MEET THE NEZ PERCE ore than half a century before Chief Joseph’s time, the Nez Perce helped put Meriwether Lewis and William MClark on the map. Without the tribe’s help, the ex- plorers might not have survived their famous mission. President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to navigate the West and find a water route to the Pacific Ocean. The expedition left St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1804. Two years later, the explorers and their team faced a difficult leg of the journey—crossing the Bitterroot Mountains in the Rockies. After 11 days in the Bitterroots, the men were near starvation. Clark pushed ahead to seek out the Nez Perce. The white men had heard of the Nez Perce, and hoped to learn from them how to reach the Pacific. The Indians had also heard of the explorers, so they were not afraid. They treated the explorers to a hearty meal of buffalo meat and bread. The Nez Perce, including a chief named Twisted Hair, helped Lewis and Clark prepare for the rest of their journey.