I believe much trouble and blood would be saved if we opened our hearts more.
We had good white friends who advised us against taking the war path. My friend and brother, Mr. Chapman, told us just how the war would end.
I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
I labored hard to avoid trouble and bloodshed.
I did not want my people killed. I did not want bloodshed.
The white men told lies for each other. They drove off a great many of our cattle. Some branded our young cattle so they could claim them.
An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.
It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.
We gathered all the stock we could find, and made an attempt to move. We left many of our horses and cattle in Wallowa. We lost several hundred in crossing the river.
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.
The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark. They brought many things that our people had never seen. They talked straight. These men were very kind.
We had a great many horses, of which we gave Lewis and Clark what they needed, and they gave us guns and tobacco in return.
General Howard informed me, in a haughty spirit, that he would give my people 30 days to go back home, collect all their stock, and move onto the reservation.
You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
My father... had sharper eyes than the rest of our people.
I pressed my father's hand and told him I would protect his grave with my life. My father smiled and passed away to the spirit land.
We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.
Words do not pay for my dead people.
The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.
Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.
