Pre-Ceramic Subsistence in Two Rock Shelters in Fresnal Canyon, South Central New Mexico Book

The story of the non-treaty Nez Perces, led by Chief Joseph, White Bird, Toohoolhoolzote, Looking Glass, and Palouse leaders Hahtalekin and Husishusis Kute, has always fascinated me ever since I first heard my father describe their long sorrowful journey to me when I was a young teenager. Since then I have managed to read nearly every book available on the subject (about 15 in all).

Hear Me, My Chiefs is one of the most important of all the books on the subject. The author, L.V. McWhorter, was the first person to actually try to get the story of the Nez Perce War from the Indian point of view. His research and interviews with then living participants of the war revealed numerous errors, exaggerations, and outright lies that had been perpetuated by the white victors and history writers of the time. We owe a debt of gratitude to him for his diligent work and for keeping alive the history of so many people who were so devoted to their own people and their culture -- people who were willing to fight and die for the just cause of simply trying to maintain their superior way of life which their people had lived for generations. Names of great fighters like Wottolen, Rainbow, Five Wounds, Wounded Head, Shore Crossing, Red Moccasin Tops, Swan Necklace, Yellow Wolf, Ollokot, Two Moons, Yellow Bull, Peopeo Tholekt, Lean Elk, and many others are kept alive because of McWhorter's work.

The story of the Nez Perce is, or should be, a cautionary tale for us today. Money-driven interests and politics led to the destruction of an entire people and their way of life. Normally good people who were driven by greed, false senses of duty and obligation, misplaced priorities, and apathy allowed themselves to do the bidding of the powerful interests that wanted Native populations destroyed at any cost. People are the same today as they were then. What happened to the Nez Perces (or to the European Jews or numerous indigenous people worldwide for that matter) can happen again to any group of people that just happens to be in the way of someone's idea of "progress".