Little Bear's Cave

Some of the recorded speeches of Chief Joseph

Chief Joseph Speaks
Selected Statements and Speeches
by the Nez Percé Chief

I.

The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark. They brought many things which our people had never seen. They talked straight and our people gave them a great feast as proof that their hearts were friendly. They made presents to our chiefs and our people made presents to them. We had a great many horses of which we gave them what they needed, and they gave us guns and tobacco in return. All the Nez Perce made friends with Lewis and Clark and agreed to let them pass through their country and never to make war on white men. This promise the Nez Perce have never broken.

 Read more here http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/six/jospeak.htm