Chief of the Walla Walla Indian tribe. After his 18 year old son Elijah was killed by by California settlers who then stole the tribe's cattle in 1844. Chiefs from many tribes wanted revenge and decided to to go through the government's legal system. Although the US government called for justice, ultimately nothing was ever done to punish Elijah's murderers or reimburse the tribe for their stolen cattle. Many of the other tribes participate in the Cayuse War of which Elijah's death was used as a rallying martyr, however Chief Peopeomoxmox did not participate in the war and said he would merely fight if his borders were attacked.
In 1855 during an attempt to negotiate a peace treaty Chief Peopeomoxmox delivered this speech to the US Government:
"I do not know what is straight. I do not see the offer you have made the Indians. I never saw these things
which are offered by the Great Father. My heart cried when you first spoke to me. I felt like I was blown away like a feather…
Stop the whites from coming here until we can have another talk: let them not bring their oxen with them. The whites
may travel in all directions through our country: we will have nothing to say to them, provided they do not build houses on our lands. Now I wish to speak about Lawyer. I think he has given his lands, that is what I think by his words. I request another meeting; it is not in one meeting only that we can come to a decision. If you come again with a friendly message from our Great Father, I shall see you again at this place. Tomorrow I shall see you again and tomorrow evening I shall go home. That is all I have to say."
Although the peace treaty was reached, soon settlers and miners were stationing themselves on the land that was supposedly the Indian's. Soon war had broken out and soldiers were killing Indians upon sight. When Chief Peopeomoxmox heard of this he and small group left the camp with a white flag. When he asked the soldiers why they were in Indian territory, he was told because Indians had been stealing. Peopeomoxmox offered to reimburse the stolen items, even though he didn't believe there had been any thefts to begin with. He was shot and scalped (along with the rest of his men) and his body mutilated. He was possibly buried on a hillside west of Walla Walla near the Whitman Mission.
In 1855 during an attempt to negotiate a peace treaty Chief Peopeomoxmox delivered this speech to the US Government:
"I do not know what is straight. I do not see the offer you have made the Indians. I never saw these things
which are offered by the Great Father. My heart cried when you first spoke to me. I felt like I was blown away like a feather…
Stop the whites from coming here until we can have another talk: let them not bring their oxen with them. The whites
may travel in all directions through our country: we will have nothing to say to them, provided they do not build houses on our lands. Now I wish to speak about Lawyer. I think he has given his lands, that is what I think by his words. I request another meeting; it is not in one meeting only that we can come to a decision. If you come again with a friendly message from our Great Father, I shall see you again at this place. Tomorrow I shall see you again and tomorrow evening I shall go home. That is all I have to say."
Although the peace treaty was reached, soon settlers and miners were stationing themselves on the land that was supposedly the Indian's. Soon war had broken out and soldiers were killing Indians upon sight. When Chief Peopeomoxmox heard of this he and small group left the camp with a white flag. When he asked the soldiers why they were in Indian territory, he was told because Indians had been stealing. Peopeomoxmox offered to reimburse the stolen items, even though he didn't believe there had been any thefts to begin with. He was shot and scalped (along with the rest of his men) and his body mutilated. He was possibly buried on a hillside west of Walla Walla near the Whitman Mission.
Chief of the Walla Walla Indian tribe. After his 18 year old son Elijah was killed by by California settlers who then stole the tribe's cattle in 1844. Chiefs from many tribes wanted revenge and decided to to go through the government's legal system. Although the US government called for justice, ultimately nothing was ever done to punish Elijah's murderers or reimburse the tribe for their stolen cattle. Many of the other tribes participate in the Cayuse War of which Elijah's death was used as a rallying martyr, however Chief Peopeomoxmox did not participate in the war and said he would merely fight if his borders were attacked.
In 1855 during an attempt to negotiate a peace treaty Chief Peopeomoxmox delivered this speech to the US Government:
"I do not know what is straight. I do not see the offer you have made the Indians. I never saw these things
which are offered by the Great Father. My heart cried when you first spoke to me. I felt like I was blown away like a feather…
Stop the whites from coming here until we can have another talk: let them not bring their oxen with them. The whites
may travel in all directions through our country: we will have nothing to say to them, provided they do not build houses on our lands. Now I wish to speak about Lawyer. I think he has given his lands, that is what I think by his words. I request another meeting; it is not in one meeting only that we can come to a decision. If you come again with a friendly message from our Great Father, I shall see you again at this place. Tomorrow I shall see you again and tomorrow evening I shall go home. That is all I have to say."
Although the peace treaty was reached, soon settlers and miners were stationing themselves on the land that was supposedly the Indian's. Soon war had broken out and soldiers were killing Indians upon sight. When Chief Peopeomoxmox heard of this he and small group left the camp with a white flag. When he asked the soldiers why they were in Indian territory, he was told because Indians had been stealing. Peopeomoxmox offered to reimburse the stolen items, even though he didn't believe there had been any thefts to begin with. He was shot and scalped (along with the rest of his men) and his body mutilated. He was possibly buried on a hillside west of Walla Walla near the Whitman Mission.
In 1855 during an attempt to negotiate a peace treaty Chief Peopeomoxmox delivered this speech to the US Government:
"I do not know what is straight. I do not see the offer you have made the Indians. I never saw these things
which are offered by the Great Father. My heart cried when you first spoke to me. I felt like I was blown away like a feather…
Stop the whites from coming here until we can have another talk: let them not bring their oxen with them. The whites
may travel in all directions through our country: we will have nothing to say to them, provided they do not build houses on our lands. Now I wish to speak about Lawyer. I think he has given his lands, that is what I think by his words. I request another meeting; it is not in one meeting only that we can come to a decision. If you come again with a friendly message from our Great Father, I shall see you again at this place. Tomorrow I shall see you again and tomorrow evening I shall go home. That is all I have to say."
Although the peace treaty was reached, soon settlers and miners were stationing themselves on the land that was supposedly the Indian's. Soon war had broken out and soldiers were killing Indians upon sight. When Chief Peopeomoxmox heard of this he and small group left the camp with a white flag. When he asked the soldiers why they were in Indian territory, he was told because Indians had been stealing. Peopeomoxmox offered to reimburse the stolen items, even though he didn't believe there had been any thefts to begin with. He was shot and scalped (along with the rest of his men) and his body mutilated. He was possibly buried on a hillside west of Walla Walla near the Whitman Mission.
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