Chief Joseph: A Life from Beginning to End

The Wild West had more than its share of rough and tumble characters, some of them more intriguing than others. But few were quite as formidable as Chief Joseph. He led his people through one of the most challenging periods of their existence, when survival itself hung in the balance. Joseph was thrust into leadership of the Nez Perce just as US forces began systematically closing off the vast territories his people had called home for generations. Caught between an impossible choice—submit to forced relocation or face annihilation—Joseph charted a third course. He wasn't seeking a fight, but he also wasn't seeking capitulation. Instead, he tried to seize the middle ground through a unique approach that utilized a strategic retreat as well as negotiation.
His story culminates not in victory, but in one of the most eloquent and heartbreaking speeches ever delivered on American soil. Despite facing overwhelming odds and impossible choices, Chief Joseph refused to surrender his dignity or his people's future. This is the story of his life in full.