I said in my heart that, rather than have war, I would give up my country.

We gave up some of our country to the white men, thinking that then we could have peace. We were mistaken. The white man would not let us alone.

We are going by you without fighting if you will let us, but we are going by you anyhow!

Words do not pay for my dead people.

I know that my race must change. We cannot hold our own with the white men as we are. We only ask an even chance to live as other men live. We ask to be recognized as men. We ask that the same law shall work alike on all men. If an Indian breaks the law, punish him by the law. If a white man breaks the law, punish him also.

All men were made by the Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers.

We gathered all the stock we could find, and made an attempt to move. We left many of our horses and cattle in Wallowa. We lost several hundred in crossing the river.