Photo: Courtesy of the Smithsonian, National Museum of the American Indian

Chief Joseph: Nez Perce First Nations
1840-1904

JOSEPH

(In honor of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce.
One of the Greatest Chiefs that ever lived.)

"Come my people". Said he
"We must leave our land!"
But he could not explain
What he did not understand.

Growing up in "Their schools"
He was schooled and spoke english well.
But what he had learned in that school
Was not what life would tell.

Keep your valley
His father was told
Now many years later
The treaty didn't hold.

Broken, not by Indians
But by Whites
"Move to a reservation" They said
"You have no rights"

The young wanted revenge
But Joseph wanted peace
And the White man wanted land
So the fighting increased

He took his people away
on a long tiring flight
They fought hard as they ran
No one cared for their plight.

"I must stop"! He cried.
"For my people are starving
What future for our children
Is this fighting all carving"?

" I WILL FIGHT NO MORE, FOREVER"

Will they have a home?
Will they have their own place?
Or will they disappear
Into the White man's race?

Copyright ©February, 1992 Dee Johnston