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Review
| Chief Joseph: Guardian of the People, by Candy Moulton. New York: A Forge Book, 2005. 239 pages. $19.95, cloth.
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| This well-written, carefully organized, and thorough narrative of the life of Chief Joseph and the forays of the Nez Perces is both a thoughtful biography and riveting account of conflict between the Nez Perces and the federal government. Candy Moulton's narrative spans over sixty years (1840–1904) and covers a number of issues that impacted federal- Indian relations in the second half of the nineteenth century. Geographically the story covers a wide swath of territory ranging from the Wallowa Valley of Oregon where Chief Joseph was born in 1840, to the Canadian border in 1877 where the Nez Perces' heroic trek ended, and finally to Oklahoma where his people were finally relocated. The life of Chief Joseph chronicles skillful diplomacy, astute military strategy, heroism, and advocacy for the repressed and downtrodden. |
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Chief Joseph: Guardian of the People is divided into sixteen succinct chapters which convey the challenges and actions of a powerful Indian leader. The carefully crafted chapters capture the subtle nuances of this leader and convey the signal contribution that Chief Joseph made to the welfare of Indian peoples in the waning years of the nineteenth century. While much of the saga is marked by cultural decline and sadness, Moulton captures the spirit and determination of a proud leader and his people. At the heart of the story is the 1,500 mile Nez Perces Trek in the summer and fall of 1877 during which Joseph struggled to unify and to encourage his people as they moved from Idaho to Montana while being ruthlessly pursued by the United States Army. In fact, Moulton devotes most of her efforts to describing the events of the four month flight to illustrate how Joseph's leadership abilities and past experiences prepared him for this noble task. The book shows the author's thorough research and cultural understanding both of the early years of Joseph's life and his time as the Nez Perces' chief that reveals not only his wisdom and determination but the internal tensions and external demands that plague all Indian leaders who attempt a quest for tribal rights after relocation. |
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For each epoch of Joseph's life Moulton provides the attention to detail and compelling analysis that make the book useful for both scholars and a general readership. She is to be commended for providing a well-researched and clearly written treatment of Chief Joseph that shows in many ways how he embodied the healthy spirit of native culture and stood for ideals of justice, peace, and understanding that were often lacking during his own lifetime. This alone merits careful attention by scholars . However there are several issues raised by Moulton which require additional development including Nez Perces inspired massacres, federal military strategy, and life on the reservation. This minor criticism in no way detracts from the important scholarly contribution made by Candy Moulton's Chief Joseph. It is a brief and easy-to-read account of federal-Indian relations. While the focus is on Chief Joseph the text provides historic context by connecting the sage of the Nez Perces, for example, to the Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876) and by revealing the role that William Sherman played in forming Indian policies and military strategies. |
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The book should prove very useful for educators at both the secondary and tertiary level because it provides succinct insights into tribal culture, white racism and depredations of the Indians. Moreover, Chief Joseph is sufficiently enigmatic to arouse lively debate on federal-Indian relations, yet adequately traditional in revealing the inner life of the Nez Perces in the nineteenth century. The chapter divisions are logical and develop the story in a coherent sequence, but most chapters can be used as stand-alone units. In many ways the events analyzed by Moulton provides a telescopic view both of Indian affairs and the nineteenth century American West. This book can easily be used in American History classes and provides an important example of how biography reveals the inner workings of history. |
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| Iona College, New Rochelle, NY |
James T. Carroll |
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