Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt or Chief Joseph
The man known as the war chief of the Nimi'ipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe for his planning and leading the Flight from the U.S. Calvary against the Treaty. Chief Joseph’s tribal name was Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt which means Thunder Travelling to Loftier Mountain Heights. Chief Joseph was born in Wallowa Valley northeastern Oregon. Joseph’s father also named Joseph is often confused with the younger Joseph. Chief Joseph had a spiritual relationship with the land where he was born Wallowa, the people in his tribe and white people and all other living creatures. It was these relationships which kept Chief Joseph’s perspective clear and focused on peace and prosperity. Manifest Destiny was driving thousands of people to the native lands that the Nez Perce used for sustainability. Government not being culturally competent had no idea what to do with the native people like the Nim'ipuu. The government felt they owned the land. Joseph’s father was born in Wallowa and he did not sell out his homeland to the government and he convinced Young Joseph to do the same. Young Chief Joseph unlike the Upper Nimiipuu Chieftan was active, persistent and articulant when dealing with the government. When the executive order was signed by President Ulysses Grant decreasing the reservation and giving settlers rights, Young Joseph requested to take his case to Washington. When settlers came into the Nimi'ipuu hunting camp and accused and shot Wilhautyah, Young Chief Joseph was required to make a move for his people. Young Chief Joesph mobilized his people and strategically waited for the aggressors to settle the issue. Chief Joeseph was well know for his surrender at Bear Paw and his speech; “I
am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohoolhoolzote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say, "Yes" or "No." He who led the young men [Olikut] is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are -- perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.”
Peoppeo Hihih meaning White Goose or Chief Whitebird
Whitebird was born in 1806 was a great bison hunter and warrior. Whitebird rejected the Treaty of 1863 and his became one of the Non-Treaty Indians bands with Chief Joseph and his band. Chief Whitebird was a great leader in council with the Flight of the Nimi’ipuu. Whitebird did not favor the war because he knew it would result in horrific consequences. He opposed Chief Joseph with the surrender at Bear Paw and escaped to Canada with some of his people
Ippakness Wayhayken meaning Looking Glass Around the Neck or Chief Looking Glass
Looking Glass was born in 1832 and was very tall and a dignified hunter and warrior. Looking Glass also rejected the Treaty of 1863 and he and his band joined Chief Joseph. Looking Glass was important council member for the tribes and lead most of their Flight in 1877. Looking Glass had good relations with the Bannock and Crow leaders and he strongly counseled retreat. Looking Glass succeeded Lean Elk at Bear Paw. He often kept his people separated from other bands in an attempt to not get involved. He was killed in The Battle of Bear Paw otherwise he probably would have joined Chief Whitebird in escaping into Canada.
Sound
Chief Toohoolhoolzote
Toohoolhoolzote was a great hunter and warrior who had tremendous strength in his youth. He was said to have enough strength to carry a deer on each shoulder. In his later year he became a “Dreamer”. Toohoolhoolzote rejected the Treaty of 1832 and joined with his small band with Chief Joesph and their Flight in 1877. He counseled for retreat and that land is not a possession of anybody, it is the people’s mother.
Poker Joe orLean Elk Lean Elk was half French a great hunter, warrior and leader. He owned fast race horses and was clever in other sports and games. Lean Elk strategies for sending the Nimi’ipuu in circuitous routes earned him the leader for a portion of the flight. Lean Elk lost his leadership from Looking Glass as a result of moving to fast at the Bear Paw Mountains where he was later killed.
Frog or Ollokot
Ollokot was son of the Old Chief Joseph and the brother of Young Chief Joseph. Ollokot was friendlier than most warriors. Ollokot was very tall six feet 2 inches and extremely athletic. He was very animated and amusing which made him popular with everybody. Ollokot was one of Chief Joseph best warriors and supporters.
Heinmot Hihhih meaning White Thunder or Yellow Wolf
Yellow Wolf was the Nimi’ipuu historian and recorded many of the events of the flight. Yellow Wolf rejected the Treaty of 1863 and joined Chief Joseph and his people. Yellow Wolf was excellent horse trainer and scout for Chief Joseph. Yellow Wolf stood tall and lean six feet tall and 187 pounds he was quick and strong. He was a keen observer and his memory was good.
Jackson Sundown
Jackson Sundown was Chief Joseph’s newphew and an excellent horse trainer and keeper. He became a popular in the rodeo.
General Oliver Otis Howard
Howard was born in Leeds, Maine on Novemeber 8, 1830. Howard graduated with a A.M. from Bowdoin College in 1850 and then U.S. Military Academy in 1854. Howard commanded a brigade in the first two Battle of Bull Run. He went on to command a division in the Fredericksburg and Chancellorvill Battles. He was wounded twice in the Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks) where he lost his right arm. Howard continued to full command of the Battle of Gettysburg. His efforts in the command Sherman’s March to the Sea promoted him Major General.
Colonel Nelson A. Miles
Miles was born in 1840 in Westminster Massachusetts. He volunteered in the Civil War and in 1861 became a Lieutenant. During the war he became a colonel and Major General. He served as General Howard’s aide-decamp and became good friends with the General. Miles preferred diplomacy to war in contacts with the native americans but supported the westward movement. In 1876 Colonel Miles was appointed post Commander of the newly constructed Fort Keogh located at the Tongue and Yellowstone Rivers. His soldiers of the Fifth Infantry were equipped to handle all types of situation and weather. Miles was very ambitious and was always prepared for action. Miles decision to attack at Bear Paw was his biggest accomplishment and justified his honor and promotions. He became Chief of Staff and served in the Spanish-American War. In June 1900, he was promoted to Lieutenant General in the U. S. Army.
Colonel John Gibbon
Gibbon was born in Philadelphia on April 20, 1827. Gibbon graduated from the Military Academy in 1857. gibbon served in the war with Mexico. He earned rank of captain when he removed the Seminole from Florida to the Indian Territory. Gibbon served as a Union division commander during the Civil War. He was wounded at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg while being promoted four times and earning the rank Brevet Major General for his gallant and meritorious services. After the war he returned to the frontier with the rank of colonel. He served in Utah, Dakota, and Montana territories. He was in charge of 450 men during the Sioux Campaign where he buried the dead from the Battle of Little Bighorn. When the Nez Perce War started Gibbon was in command of the Seventh Infantry at Fort Shaw, Montana. He was responsible for the Big Hole Attack and often criticized for his lack of compassion for wormen and children during war. After the Nez Perce War Gibbon went on to command in Dakota, Platt and Columbia. In 1891 he was detached from service and died in Baltimore in 1896.
Colonel Samuel D. Sturgis
Sturgis was born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania on June 11, 1822. After graduating from the Military Academy in 1846, he entered the war with Mexico where he was captured at Buena Vista and held prisoner. Sturgis served in Missouri, Kansas, California, New Mexico and Texas in campaigns against the Apache, Cheyenne, Comanche and the Kiowas. Sturgis entered the Civil War on the side of the Union with the rank of Captain and due to his skillful leadership earned the rank Lieutenant Colonel. Sturgis as colonel commanded the Seventh Cavalry at Fort Lincoln in the Dakota Department. He tried to capture the fleeing Nez Perce in the Absaroka foothills only to be eluded by the chiefs. Sturgis later served as governor of the Soldiers’ Home near Washington D.C. and finally as commandant at Fort Meade in Dakota. In 1866 he retired from the military and three years later died in Minnesota.
Captain Rawn
Rawn was born in Pennsylvania about 1843. He enlisted in the Civil War as a private. He earned his rank of second lieutenant and captain by 1863. He supervised the construction of Fort Missoula. He felt threatened by the arrival of Nimi’ipuu coming across the trail so asks President Hays for troops. When none were sent he recurited volunteers from Missoula, Butte, Deer Lodge and Flathead. When the Nez Perce crossed the Lolo Trail, he was waiting for them with a barricade. A parley was underways while most of the Nez Perce people just walked away causing many of the volunteers to leave.
Pete Matt & Wiliam Silverthorn Taken captive on Lolo Trail at Nasook Nema where the hot springs are. Both boys escaped that night. This created much commotion with the people of the valley.