Read the excerpt from "an indian's view of indian affairs."some of you think an indian is like a wild animal. this is a great mistake. i will tell you all about our people, and then you can judge whether an indian is a man or not. which central idea of the speech is most supported by this excerpt? the nez percé people seek to preserve their valued cultural traditions. the nez percé people hope to reduce conflict between the indians. the nez percé people adhere strongly to human values and morals. the nez percé people want the new settlers to better understand them.

The central idea of the speech which is most supported by the excerpt above is the Nez percé people want the new settlers to better understand them. The correct answer is the last option.  

EXPLANATION

In 1879, Chief Joseph and the Nez Percés (Indian tribe) held a demonstration in Washington, DC. In a speech, Chief Joseph told the story of the resistance of the Indian people who were forced to sign treaties on their ancestral lands and then forced to flee to places that are far from their homeland. This speech is known as "The Indian’s View of Indian Affairs".

Chief Joseph who had another name: Joseph the Younger or Young Joseph, was born with a different name, Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt. He was a leader of Wal -lam-wat-kain (Wallowa) from Nez Percé, an American Indian tribe in the Northwest Pacific. Chief Joseph led in the second half of the 19th century, replacing his father Tuekakas, also known as Chief Joseph the Elder.

Chief Joseph led Nez Percé during the most turbulent times in their history. Yet, the federal government of the United States moved Chief Joseph and Nez Percé from Wallowa Valley, their ancestral lands. Wallowa Valley is an area in northeast Oregon. They were moved to a faraway place called Idaho area.  

A series of resistance against the whites occurred. At least 700 men, women, and children led by Joseph were chased by the U.S. Army under the leadership of General Oliver O. Howard, known as the Nez Percé War. In 1904 Joseph passed away without regaining his ancestral land.

LEARN MORE

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

• How would the meaning of "An Indian's View of Indian Affairs" most likely have been affected had Chief Joseph adopted a tone of resentment instead

KEYWORD: Nez Percé, Chief Joseph, American Indian  

Subject: Social Studies

Class: 10-12

Subchapter: The Indian’s View of Indian Affairs

The central idea that is the most supported by the excerpt is: the nez percé people want the new settlers to better understand them.

During the earlier years of settlement, new settlers often refer to the indian as a savage or wild animals simply because their people have different cultures.  The indians than took an initiative to invite the settlers into their community and try to change their judgement regarding their views on the indians.

the declaration states, “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness….”