Tuesday Talk: Two Chief Josephs

Tuesday, August 18 

12:00 PM

Join Rich Wandschneider of the Josephy Library for a lively discussion exploring the stories of two Chief Josephs in the Nez Perce past of the Wallowas.

There were two Josephs: tiwi-teqis (Chief Old Joseph), c. 1785–1871, and hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt (Chief Young Joseph), c. 1840–1904. But who was who and why does it matter?

Who is buried at Wallowa Lake? Who signed which treaty? Who “planted poles” to mark his territory? Who converted to Christianity and later renounced it? And who gave the famous speeches?

And did you know the town of Joseph was named in 1879, just two years after the Nez Perce were forced to leave their homeland in the Wallowas?

Bring your questions and observations to this engaging discussion of the Nez Perce tenure in the Wallowas. It’s an intriguing lens through which to consider the history of the place we live in and visit today.