Recently, I have found myself curious about Native American history and discovered this book by author Kent Nerburn regarding Chief Joseph (1840-1904) and the Nez Pearce Tribe, whose experience is an overlooked part of American history. Regrettably, I was not aware of their story and the chain of events which resulted in their re-settlement in North America. However, this book tells the tale in full detail, and Nerburn has given us a book that separates fact from fiction while revealing the intimate views and feelings of both native tribes and officials of the United States Government.

I must warn readers that this book is not an easy read. The author presents the story well and the narrative flows smoothly, but the content within is bound to stir emotions. One will be required to accept the fact that meetings between Native Americans and representatives of the United States were not always pleasant, and violence was a common occurrence. But to understand how we reach that point in the story, the author explains the arrival of White Christians who believe it is their life’s mission to convert the natives to more “civilized” ways of living. And while some natives do adapt to the European customs, others were content in the ways of their ancestors and their reaction to the ways of whites which they saw as unfair, provoked a violent rebuke which sets the stage for future events. Additionally, the difference in opinion on how land is occupied becomes the crux of the story as the Nez Pearce yearn for their home while being moved from one outpost to another.

The full story of how the Nez Pearce became nomads within their own continent is complex, but the author thoroughly explains the series of events which changed a continent. Multiple factors are at play, but consist of failed treaties, division within the Nez Pearce, the discovery of gold in California, and bloodthirsty troops in the United States Military who wanted nothing more than to exterminate the native tribes. Famed General William T. Sherman (1820-1891) makes an appearance in the story, and his words are nothing short of haunting. In 1863, both parties meet for a treaty which fails to produce positive results, and the Nez Pearce leaders decided that they will not abandon their homeland. This is the turning point in the story when their lives are altered forever, and we bear witness to their flight across North America. 

The flight of the Nez Pearce at first is a journey to avoid confrontations with white settlers and soldiers. Assisted by Chief Looking Glass (1832-1877), the tribe sets it sight north in the hopes that American troops will leave them alone. However, Joseph soon realizes that running is futile, and a rift soon develops between the two. Sadly, two factions form within one group, and each decision has long-reaching consequences in the story. And while they debate the best course of action, American soldiers quickly advance and soon all hell breaks loose as the two sides engage in deadly combat. Joseph would personally feel the agony of war, and the horrors of the conflict are never far behind. The descriptions of acts committed by both sides will remove any doubt as to how violent North America was. Frankly, it was a very dark time in this nation’s history, and this section of the book will be difficult to accept but this is the reality of the hell brought on by war.

Eventually Joseph realizes that war is only going to lead to extinction and makes the difficult decision to agree with American terms. But this is far from the end of the story, and their lives become even more bizarre as the United States Government shuffles them around as if they were pieces on a chessboard. It is both bewildering and bizarre, and the reaction from residents as the Nez Pearce travels from town to the next takes on a carnival like atmosphere which is surreal. But it also reveals that the United States Government did not have a long-term plan for them. The sub-human conditions endured by the tribe are just awful and heartbreaking. And although Joseph and the Nez Pearce do accomplish their goal from the beginning, the personal sacrifices made by all of them are shocking. Joseph personally suffers enormous loss which left me speechless. By the end of the story, the Nez Pearce are a battered and broken people. But they still exist today which is more than can be said for other tribes which are extinct.

History is not always pleasant or uplifting, but it must be understood and acknowledged. And there is no American history without Native Americans. North America was once an uncharted and violent continent home to many but owned by none. The creation of the United States changed things in ways no one saw coming. And though we are long way from the events in this book, we can continue to learn the stories of Native Americans and why their history is as important as any other, and how it shaped the nation called the United States of America. This is the story of the Nez Pearce and their ordeal which should never be forgotten. 

“The real story, the true story, is every bit as poignant and every bit as dramatic. But it is obscured by the myth because the myth is so powerful and so perfectly suited to our American need to find nobility rather than tragedy in our past. It is also a myth of our own devise, and therein lies a story.”

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FCKH2O
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne, October 13, 2009