Chief Joseph was born in 1840. In 1847 sickness infected the Nez Perce's neighboring tribe causing the Nez Perce to blame the sickness on the white missionaries.  It was not long before gold was discovered in the Bitteroot Mountains in the year 1850.  After gold was discovered the american government wanted to sign a treaty with the Nez Perce. The treaty said that the Nez Perce tribe would only live in the Walla Walla Valley.  In 1871 Thunder-Rolling-in-The Mountains (Chief Joseph) became the Chief of the Nez Perce.  In 1877 Chief Joseph and his people fled for Canada in hope of finding freedom their.  In 1877 Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce surrendered to General Howard just 10 miles from the Canadian border.  Chief Joseph died September 21,1904 on the Colville Reservation in Washington.
 

 
                                                                                Chief Joseph's Grave site