I only ask of the government to be treated as all other men are treated.
I hope that no more groans of wounded men and women will ever go to the ear of the Great Spirit Chief above, and that all people may be one people.
We did not know there were other people besides the Indian until about one hundred winters ago, when some men with white faces came to our country.
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.
You might as well expect rivers to run backwards as any man born free to be contented penned up.
We gave up some of our country to the white men, thinking that then we could have peace. We were mistaken. The white man would not let us alone.
We damaged all the big guns we could, and carried away the powder and the lead.
When my young men began the killing, my heart was hurt.
I saw that the war could not be prevented. The time had passed.
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.
My people were divided about surrendering.
I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.
If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian he can live in peace.
Lawyer acted without authority from our band. He had no right to sell the Wallowa country.
I would have given my own life if I could have undone the killing of white men by my people.
I saw clearly that war was upon us when I learned that my young men had been secretly buying ammunition.
Look twice at a two-faced man.
The earth was created by the assistance of the sun, and it should be left as it was. The country was made without lines of demarcation, and it is no man’s business to divide it.
I am not a child, I think for myself. No man can think for me.
Cursed be he that scalps the reputation of the dead.