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Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy by Kent Nerburn
ben_r's review against another edition
4.0
Chief Joseph was a smart, perceptive, strong leader who met an arrogant, greed infested foe. Nerburn writes a sad story that should be read. 4.5 stars
daffodill37's review against another edition
(Audio)
Please note: This book is written by a white person, it's not a Native story written by a Native person.
That being said, it is much more accurate Native American history than anything I ever got in school.
Please note: This book is written by a white person, it's not a Native story written by a Native person.
That being said, it is much more accurate Native American history than anything I ever got in school.
dorodoyle's review against another edition
5.0
Stunning. Tragic. Shattering.
In tears when I finished this book. Ready to acknowledge, finally, that the US has had their own holocaust when Native Americans were slaughtered, abused, lied to and ruined as "settlers" claimed every bit of territory in this country.
In tears when I finished this book. Ready to acknowledge, finally, that the US has had their own holocaust when Native Americans were slaughtered, abused, lied to and ruined as "settlers" claimed every bit of territory in this country.
ronald_schoedel's review against another edition
5.0
If you’re looking for a heartbreaking tale of broken promises to a broken, downtrodden, persecuted and degraded people, one which makes you keenly aware of how duplicitous, evil, scheming, and lacking in basic human compassion your national government and its elected and appointed officials can be, this is just the book for you. If you want to read about how those who have all the privilege and benefits in the world see it as their birthright to take what little someone else has away from them, simply because they live or believe differently, the tale of the flight of the Nez Perce fits the bill.
It was so sad that every time a promise was made to the small band of Nez Perce natives, you just know within a few pages you’ll be reading of the latest of many betrayals.
An incredibly readable narrative tale that will keep you up at night, on the edge of your seat, awaiting to see just how horribly the white man and his government can treat these poor people, yet just how patiently they bear injustice after injustice, never repaying evil for evil.
It was so sad that every time a promise was made to the small band of Nez Perce natives, you just know within a few pages you’ll be reading of the latest of many betrayals.
An incredibly readable narrative tale that will keep you up at night, on the edge of your seat, awaiting to see just how horribly the white man and his government can treat these poor people, yet just how patiently they bear injustice after injustice, never repaying evil for evil.
odearrr's review against another edition
5.0
Chief Joseph (Hinmst-owyalahtq’it) and the Flight of the Nez Perce/Nimiipuu, follows the flight of the Nez Perce from their homelands (Columbia River Plateau) towards Canada, as they try to reach the border for safety and to join forces with the Sioux and Sitting Bull. In 1860, upon the discovery of gold, settlers and miners flooded the area, and the US government broke the treaty of 1855, reducing the size of the reservation by 3/4s (and without any resources post-civil war to maintain this area, settlers pretty much took what they wanted, ignoring these boundaries) making their ability to stay nomadic and maintain their way of life impossible.
After a few violent incidents the Nez Perce/Nimiipuu ended up fleeing the pursuit of the US Army - amongst them women, children and elders and 2,000 of their prized horses. They fled over rugged terrain, over mountains, swelling rivers and through harsh weather conditions.
The story of there flight is unbelievably tragic, and unrelentingly. I had to put it down more than a few times.
As an Oregonian, who has known the name Chief Joseph from an early age, since it is on dams, lakes and towns throughout the PNW, not to mention on many a fridge magnet and poster. It is interesting to learn that the story most often told is mostly a romanticized myth created by the press and by extension by "white/settler culture" and the true story is way more complex and tragic.
Here is a google map of the Nez Perce/Nimiipuu flight, which is worth checking out.
NEZ PERCE GOOGLE MAP
Note: I almost put the book down, since I was turned off by the first chapter, but immensely glad I kept reading. It is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
After a few violent incidents the Nez Perce/Nimiipuu ended up fleeing the pursuit of the US Army - amongst them women, children and elders and 2,000 of their prized horses. They fled over rugged terrain, over mountains, swelling rivers and through harsh weather conditions.
The story of there flight is unbelievably tragic, and unrelentingly. I had to put it down more than a few times.
As an Oregonian, who has known the name Chief Joseph from an early age, since it is on dams, lakes and towns throughout the PNW, not to mention on many a fridge magnet and poster. It is interesting to learn that the story most often told is mostly a romanticized myth created by the press and by extension by "white/settler culture" and the true story is way more complex and tragic.
Here is a google map of the Nez Perce/Nimiipuu flight, which is worth checking out.
NEZ PERCE GOOGLE MAP
Note: I almost put the book down, since I was turned off by the first chapter, but immensely glad I kept reading. It is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
catzkc's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent historical narrative, not just dry facts and dates. An incredibly tragic part of U.S. history. This covers much more than just the Chief and the years of The Flight. It begins about 100 years of the tribes history - from the early 1800’s until Joseph’s passing in 1904. So you get a pretty thorough accounting of the tribe’s history from it’s first encounters with white Europeans (Lewis & Clark in 1805) thru their struggles with the settlers and miners and corrupt government officials, and their interment on Reservations.
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