Memorial of Chief Josephs final speech

On the morning of October 5, the two remaining hereditary leaders, White Bird and Joseph, met two ‘Treaty Nez Perce’ to discuss terms of “quitting the fight”. White Bird mistrusts the Army’s promises, refuses to surrender, and with 30 others escapes to Canada that night. Joseph declares to the Nez Perce Camp that his decision to end the fighting is to save his people. At 2:00 PM, as he hands over his rifle to Miles, he states briefly and simply. “From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more, forever.”