Texts of the North American Indian

THE NEZ PERCES, PART 4

HISTORICAL SKETCH

In early March, 1877, Howard began his movement toward the military occupancy of the Wallowa valley. The inception of this manoeuvre was, of course, known at once by the Indians, who quickly expressed a desire for a council to discuss the situation, but asked that it be held at the Umatilla agency, for they did not trust the church Indians and the interpreters at Lapwai. At the Umatilla interview, on April 1st, Lieutenant Bell attended as Howard's representative. Alokut was there, but not Joseph, and at the request of the latter General Howard was to meet Joseph and the other "non-treaty" chiefs at Walla Walla on April 19th.

At the appointed time Alokut appeared with a delegation of headmen, but Joseph was yet ill, and at the request of the Indians it was arranged to have a large council at Lapwai on the third of May. The principal head-men participating in this council were, Joseph, Looking Glass, Piopio-haihaiuh, Tuhulhufsut, Hushush-keut (Shorn Head), Hatalikin, Kaliwit, Poyakun, Tukalikshima (a brother of Looking Glass), and Piopio-maksmaks (Yellow Pelican).' The Indians at the outset asked that they be allowed a long talk, thus indicating that they had not yet fully grasped the fact that the decree was final and words were of no further avail. Howard informed them that they might have any reasonable opportunity to talk, but whatever they had to say could not in any way change the situation. He said in substance: "I am here to put you on the Lapwai reservation, and this I shall do or fight you. There is no use of talking about the Wallowa valley. I am already sending my soldiers there to take possession of it." The first day's council on the third of May did not enter seriously into matters, Joseph asking that they await the coming of White Bird, who was on his way and would arrive that night. The medicine-men or priests, called by Howard "dreamers" and "drummers,," were persistent with their ever-ready argument against transgressing the laws of their creator by moving from the land. Howard had slight patience with their religious contention, and insisted that they cease discussing their beliefs and come to business matters. The second day's council was like the first, largely a remonstrance by the medicine-men against releasing the lands. Says Howard:

" Joseph simply introduced White Bird and his people, stating that they had not seen me before, and that he wished them to understand what was said. White Bird sat demurely in front of me, kept his hat on, and steadily covered his face with a large eagle's wing. They then put forth an old 'Dreamer' of White Bird's band, Too schul-hul-sote by name a large, thick-necked, ugly, obstinate savage of the worst type. His first remark was about the law of the earth: that there were two parties to a controversy, and that the one that was right would come out ahead. We answered that we were all children of a common Government, and must obey. The old man replied that he had heard about a trade between Indians and white men, bargaining away the Indians' land, but that he belonged to the land out of which he came."

Howard's prejudice against the priests was such that from time to time in his report he utilized all the words at the command of a Christian gentleman in their vituperation. Joseph desiring that further discussion be postponed until Monday, General Howard gladly granted the request, as this gave his advancing troops so much more time to draw close.

Tuhulhufsut, the "dreamer," came into Monday's council with renewed vigor and determination to win the cause of his people. No doubt it had been agreed among the head-men that he was to do the speaking. As priest and counsel he would do the best he could in their behalf, and if he could not win, then they would accept the situation. The argument between Howard and Tuhulhufsut grew exceedingly spirited, the old "dreamer" continually recurring to the statement that the "non-treaties" had sold no land, that it was against the laws of their creator to part with land, and General Howard as constantly reiterating that as the minority branch of their tribe they must submit to the acts of the majority, and that the Government had ordered him to put them on the reservation, stating, in reply to some of Tuhulhufsut's arguments: "I do not want to offend your religion, but you must talk about practical things. Twenty times over I hear that the earth is your mother and about chieftainship from the earth. I want to hear it no more, but come to business at once." The old "dreamer" persisted in his opposition until it was necessary for Howard to arrest him. With the removal of Tuhulhufsut from the council the other chiefs realized that their cause was lost, and they were soon discussing what places in the reservation the different chiefs would occupy, and arranging to accompany Howard the following day to select locations, and others planning to go later to more distant parts of the reservation for the same purpose.

The story of the council as related by Piopio-maksmaks (son of that Piopio-maksmaks, chief of the Wallawalla, who made the treaty with Governor Stevens), born about 1838 at the mouth of Walla Walla river, and married to a Nez Perce woman on Potlatch creek, is as follows:

"General Howard called all the head-men from the different bands, both head-chiefs and sub-chiefs, and prominent men. He placed the head-chiefs in the front circle. I sat on one side and oseph on my right. On his right were Looking Glass, Tuhulhufsut, ' u ush-keut, ataIihkin, Kaliwit, Poyakun. Alokut was at Nihyiwi (Umatilla river). Between Kaliwit and Poyakun sat General Howard with his interpreter, James Reuben, at his left. These were all, but behind sat and stood a mass of people, many hundreds. This council sat in front of one of the buildings at Fort Lapwai. General Howard made the first speech. He said: 'All these chiefs I have called together. I see all of you to-day are before me. Only Alok6t is absent. I have come to see you chiefs face to face, and to give you my plan as to whether you can go into the reservation. The headmen in Washington have directed me to meet you chiefs and have told me to place you in a reservation. They told me no matter how many horses you have, I am to give you thirty days to come in. This is the order I received from Washington. All I have said is the order from Washington.'

"Everybody was silent, listening. He went on: 'I do not want any one to make any remarks in opposition to this plan.' To Hushushkeut he said, 'I will give you land on Potlatch creek, and you must be there in thirty-five days! That chief was from Pinawawih. Kaliwit, Hatalihkin, and Poyakun all lived at Wawawih [Wawawai, Washington], and they were given thirty-five days. He gave a paper to Hushush-keut to show that he had thirty-five days. The chief said: 'My hands are not clean, and I might spoil that paper. You had better keep it for me.' He handed it back. General Howard gave it to him again, and said, 'You must take this, or I will put you in jail.' Hushush-keut took the paper. The people on the outside were advising him to do so. To Joseph the general said, 'I will give you the place on Sweetwater creek, and your brother Alokut, though he is not here, will live in the country at Cul de Sac.' Joseph said, 'Aa!' To White Bird the general said, 'You shall go to Sapifiash [Cottonwood creek],' and the chief answered: 'Aa! I must go to see that place.' To Looking Glass General Howard said, 'You can have either Tukpaaiwawih [the country near Stuart, Idaho], or Tukupe [a quarter of a mile above Stites, Idaho].' Looking Glass said, 'Aa!' To Tuhulhufsut he said, 'I want you to come in with White Bird and live close to him.' Tuhulhufsut said: 'Listen! Even if I told you a good word, yet you would not listen. Even if a man from above should come down and stand between us two and talk to us, yet you would not listen. You will not listen to me!' General Howard was angry at this and called two soldiers, who put Tuhulhufsut in the guard-bouse. He made no resistance. I was now the only one left'.

"A few days before this council Kohkohaiyaitamn, a man who went to church at Spalding, but had two wives, told Agent Monteith that every Sunday I beat the drum and sang, while he, Kohkohaiyait imn, was in church. He wanted the agent to tell General Howard and have me stopped. General Howard said: 'All these chiefs I have talked to and given them their places. Hushush-keut and those other three are going to come to the creek on which you live, Piopio-maksmaks.' I got up and said: 'General Howard, I want to say a few words before you go on. Those people from Wawawih who are coming to my place, I cannot look after them and take care of them.' He said, 'I will take care of all these chiefs.' I went on: 'I am a red man. You see me before you. I do not know when our way of doing started, it was far back. I know I am a red man. I know my laws (tamaluit Whenever the Sunday comes, I say to my people, "That law cannot pass us." So I take a big drum and dress myself just as I have always done. That is my way. This is not simply to show what I can do, but in response to this great law. I do not want that Kohkohaiyaitamn to go anywhere near my place and preach. He must come to Lapwai. That is all I have to say.' General Howard replied: 'No matter if Kohkohaiyaitfimn tells you this. Have pity on him, he is an old man. He must come down here to church. When the Sunday comes, that is for you to have your church in your own way. Nothing hinders you from doing this. The hunting places and the places for digging roots are still open to you, and will always be open to you.' He gave me the same place in which I was living-"

There is no doubt that Joseph and the principal chiefs accepted the situation in good faith, and immediately began preparations to move within the reservation.' The following day, Looking Glass, Joseph, and White Bird rode about in company with General Howard in search of a spot at which to establish their homes. It was decided that Joseph should take his place near Lapwai, and that on the following day White Bird and Looking Glass would go with Howard to Kamiah to find a place. On the tenth of May these two chiefs selected locations for their people and themselves in the vicinity of Kamiah.

That accomplished, Howard returned to Lapwai for a final council and adjustment of minor details. At that time Joseph decided that he wanted to be with his friends and would go to Kamiah. Howard then set out for Vancouver, leaving Captain Perry in command.

The general impression among those in touch with the Indians was that they had accepted the inevitable and would go on the reservation. It is certain that the principal chiefs and their people began to prepare for the removal at once. Naturally the young and hotheaded counselled resistance, but there is no doubt that the general intention was to comply with the Government's demand.

EDWARD S. CURTIS

...to be continued next month
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