Place: Wallowa Lake, OR
Weather: Sunny, 51/79F
Route: From Boise 244 miles NW on I-84 W, OR-82 E.
Significance: The story of Old Chief Joseph (1785-1871) of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce is one of the more sad in the interminably sad story of Native peoples in the Americas post Columbus. At the time of Lewis and Clark, the Nez Perce lived in parts of the current states of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Joseph, known as Tuekakas by his people, was one of the first chiefs to convert to Christianity - which is why he had a Christian name. He also advocated for his people to be peaceful with the government of the United States. He helped to form the agreement for an almost 7 million acre reservation in 1855. In 1863 gold was found in parts of the reservation and the U.S. government took back 90% of this land without even a discussion. Joseph felt betrayed - he gave up Christianity and realized that the U.S. government could never be trusted.
Joseph died in 1871, but things would only get worse for his people. In 1877, his son would be forced to march his people over a thousand miles with the U.S. Army on their trail. The Elder Joseph's skull was dug up by white people and supposedly was on view at a dentist's office in Idaho. In 1926 the rest of his skeleton was moved to the most sacred place for him - Wallowa Lake. His burial site is managed by the National Park Service and can be visited today.
Website: National Park Service
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