Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy

Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce: The Untold Story of an American TragedyMany tales have been told of the Old West: the voyage of Lewis and Clark, the Gold Rush of 1849, and the building of the Intercontinental Railroad. But much less known is the story of Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph and his struggle to return his people to their homeland. Chief Joseph led a group of eight hundred Nez Perce men, women and children 1800 miles through difficult, wintry terrain to escape the U. S. Military. Finally, he surrendered, saying

Many tales have been told of the Old West: the voyage of Lewis and Clark, the Gold Rush of 1849, and the building of the Intercontinental Railroad. But much less known is the story of Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph and his struggle to return his people to their homeland. Chief Joseph led a group of eight hundred Nez Perce men, women and children 1800 miles through difficult, wintry terrain to escape the U.S. Military. Finally, he surrendered, saying "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

Kent Nerburn examines the life and character of this complex leader and to what lengths he would go to help his people. After reading Chief Joseph and the Flight of the Nez Perce, you will never look at Chief Joseph, the American Indian, or our nation's westward journey in the same way again.

Kent Nerburn holds a Ph.D. in Religion and Art. For several years he worked with the Ojibwe of northern Minnesota helping collect the memories of the tribal elders. He is the author of the highly acclaimed Letters to My Son, the award-winning Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with An Indian Elder, and Simple Truths. He is editor of Native American Wisdom, The Soul of an Indian, and The Wisdom of the Great Chiefs. Nerburn lives with his wife and son in northern Minnesota.

"The truth is powerful, and Chief Joseph and the Flight of the Nez Perce gets right at truth. Nerburn has written about a man of humility and grandeur, whose patient anguish and devotion to his people should be part of our national mythos. This is storytelling with a greatness of heart." -- Louise Erdrich--National Catholic Reporter

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: HarperOne
Published: 10/10/2006
ISBN: 9780061136085
Pages: 419
Weight: 0.74lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 1.50d