After the arrival of the colonists to America, the Native tribes started to fight for their land. Many tribes were wiped out, others surrendered to the colonists. Chief Joseph's speech "I'm tired of fighting" to General Nelson A. Miles is a very popular example of a Native American tribe surrendering to the colonists.
Chief Joseph starts off with, "I am tired of fighting." A simple sentence, however the Natives choose their words very carefully. You instantly know what he's going to talk about by hearing that. You can also tell that the tone is of a person who's been defeated, who has nothing left to lose. "Our Chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead." Everyone close to him is dead. It carries an emotional appeal, making the listener, General Nelson A., hopefully understand that it's over, this man is done. Chief Joseph then begins to explain further that his tribe is freezing to death. "Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever." A very powerful speech, talks about how he's finished and how he doesn't want to withstand anymore wars being fought.
Chief Joseph is a famous example of a Native tribe surrendering to the colonists. It's hard to believe that his tribe is on the verge of being nothing but a memory, but that doesn't compare to being forgotten forever, having no more of your tribe still alive. That's what has happened to the majority of the tribes in America, being totally wiped out, losing their entire culture. All of these tribes are language based so if no one speaks the language, it is as if they never existed at all.
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