Yellow Wolf
| Yellow Wolf | |
|---|---|
| Hemene Moxmox (Yellow Wolf) | |
Photo of Yellow Wolf in his fifties, taken by or for Lucullus Virgil McWhorter, during the course of their friendship and collaboration on the story of Yellow Wolf's people.
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| Nez Perce, Wallowa band leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1855 Wallowa Valley, Oregon |
| Died | c. August 21, 1935 Colville Indian Reservation, Washington |
| Cause of death | illness |
| Resting place | Nespelem, Washington, near the grave of Chief Joseph |
| Spouse(s) |
Pe-Tol-Von-Nan-Ick (Helen) |
| Relations | Chief Joseph |
| Children |
Billy Yellow Wolf |
| Parents |
Seekumses Kunnin (Horse Blanket) (father) Yiyik Wasumwah (Swan Woman) (mother) |
| Known for | Nez Perce War |
| Religion | Dreamer Faith |
| Nickname(s) | Heinmot Hihhih (White Thunder or White Lightning) (his "war name") |
Pe-Tol-Von-Nan-Ick (Helen)
Billy Yellow Wolf
Seekumses Kunnin (Horse Blanket) (father)
Yellow Wolf or He–Mene Mox Mox (born c. 1855, died August 1935) was a Nez Perce warrior who fought in the Nez Perce War of 1877. In his old age, he decided to give the war a Native American perspective. From their meeting in 1907 till his death in 1935, Yellow Wolf talked annually to Lucullus Virgil McWhorter, who wrote a book for him, Yellow Wolf: His Own Story. He is notable as one of the few members of the defeated Nez Perce to talk openly to strangers and tell their story to the world.
Others of his tribe said he was making a fool of himself for talking to a white man, saying that the children of the tribe would tell the story. In spite of that, he continued to work with McWhorter. In telling the native's side he said, "I am telling my story that all may know the war we did not want. War is made to take something that is not your own." He was concerned that the next generation of Native Americans would continue to suffer under white oppression, and wrote to help them. He said, "the young generation behind me, for them I tell the story. It is for them! I want the next generation of whites to know and treat the Indian as themselves."
In his interviews with McWhorter, Yellow Wolf makes it clear that there was increasing pressure placed upon the Native Americans as thousands of white men invaded the Wallowa Valley, especially after the beginning of a gold rush. During that time, Native Americans were being killed by incoming white people, without consequence. They were being hanged and threatened with violence if they didn't give in to settlers' demands for land. The elders in the tribe were trying to take a non-violent route, attempting to keep their people from retaliating.
In addition to that, the representatives of the U.S. government who came to talk to them seemed to be going out of their way to be insulting, or at least took no effort to understand cultural sensitivities. It was against native tradition to use threats or force (called "showing the rifle") during peace talks, which is exactly what General Oliver O. Howard did. He went beyond threats and had another leader, Toohoolhoolzote, locked up because he would not obey. Yellow Wolf said, "That was what brought war, the arrest of this chief and showing us the rifle!"
In spite of this the rest of the Nez Perce leaders at the council still tried to hold the peace, but some of the younger generation took matters into their own hands. A young man, Wahlitits had earlier lost his father to a white man who coveted his land. He had held off revenge because of his father's last wishes. But after the insult by General Howard, he got two cousins, Sarpsis Ilppilp (Red Moccasin Tops) and Wetyetmas Wahyakt (Swan Necklace) to help him kill that man. Unable to find him, they killed another instead. This was the last straw between the two sides, and led to the Nez Perce fleeing their home and the army.
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Wikipedia