Joyce Crowley Art Studios Chief Joseph

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The End of a Noble Journey
(approximately 4' x 5')

Chief Joseph, Nez Perce, sending his wife and baby (born during the battle of Clearwater, ID, July 1877) off to freedom in Canada before surrendering. I finished this September 11, 2001, for a show in Bozeman, MT September 14, 16. I had drawn the scene 28 years ago after viewing a documentary of the tragic injustice of the pursuit of the men, women, children and elderly with livestock and belongings from their beloved ancestral Willowa Valley (Oregon). This was a very emotional project. Then the September 11, 2001 tragedy.

Broken Hearts
the story...

The Nez Perce were one of the few tribes that helped Lewis & Clark and were described in a letter to the government as noble, handsome, intelligent, generous people who saved them from starvation and death, and they live in this beautiful Willowa Valley. All the government heard was “beautiful Willowa Valley.” Settlers who were welcomed by the Nez Perce wanted more land. General Howard took a treaty to get more land, but Chief Joseph refused to sign. Howard and Washington, angered by this refusal, finally said, “Enough of this Mother Earth talk,” and gave an order to vacate in 30 days to a reservation in Idaho. It was spring and very difficult for the tribe as livestock were giving birth.

Young braves angered by the order to vacate, killed several anti-Indian settlers. (One of the braves father had been killed by one of these settlers earlier.) The US Cavalry pursued the Tribe as they fled. The Nez Perce Trail took them from Willowa Valley battling through Idaho over treacherous Lolo Pass to Montana where they rested in Big Hole, Montana. Here a massacre occurred with a surprise attack by soldiers using cannon fire. Over 100 Nez Perce were killed and most of their belongings were lost in flight.

Their flight continued through Montana, peacefully trading with Bozeman ranchers and on through Yellowstone (which was designated as a National Park in 1872). They encountered tourists in the Park and briefly captured several. They were hoping their friends the Crow would help them, but to Joseph's dismay the Crow were assisting the Cavalry. Receiving no help from the Crow, the Tribal Council decided to make a run for Canada to link up with Sitting Bull's Sioux, who had fled to Canada after The Battle of Little Big Horn the year before.

This approximately 1,500 mile journey stopped 40 miles from freedom to rest at Bear Paw, Montana. Here an early October snowstorm occurred, compounding the misery of a starving and freezing people. A surprise attack at this location by a young, ambitious, General Miles led to negotiations and surrender of Chief Joseph, who chose to protect his 417 sick, wounded and elderly survivors. Over 200 of the more able Nez Perce, including Joseph's 11-year-old daughter, escaped to Canada. Some of the escapees were rounded up and returned to the group (There were over 18 battles fought during this flight.)

Joseph consented to surrender only because General Miles promised their return to the Idaho reservation; however a vengeful General Sherman back East denied Miles promise. Sherman wanted to hang Joseph and he had them shipped to Leavenworth, Kansas. Over 100 Nez Perce died of malaria from drinking the muddy Missouri River water by their camp. Joseph continued his eloquent pleas for justice and the return of his people to the Willowa Valley. He was allowed to move his people to Indian Territory in Oklahoma where many more died of disease and heat. Several visits to Washington by Joseph, 8 years of General Miles letters pleading Joseph's case, Presbyterian sympathizers and others brought the resettlement of the Nez Perce to the Idaho reservation. However, a still vengeful Washington separate Chief Joseph and 150 of this tribe to exile in the high desert country of Nespelem and Colville, Washington reservation. Joseph continued his efforts to return his people to their beloved Willowa Valley. Chief Joseph died at age 64 of a broken heart in 1904 and was buried at Colville. (Nespelem)

With the advent of the Bi-centennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, there is talk of moving Chief Joseph's body to the land of his father's burial, near Joseph, Oregon. (The book, Chief Joseph in His Own Words tells this passionate story about a shameful injustice, yet to be rectified in our nation's history. See Ken Burn's documentary video on the West – The Last Indian Wars (Little Big Horn – Nez Perce) movie: I Will Fight No More Forever.