Blog #11

AFter reading about the American West, two common topics are owning land and Indians. After watching the movie, Spirit today in class I wanted to know more about the Indians involvment of the American West. I mainly researched the movements of the Indians and the leaders of different groups. The leader that I found to be the most interesting was Chief Looking Glass, or Allalimya Takanin. With the short amount of time that the Chief lived he accomplished many great feats for the Indians of the time period.
Chief Looking Glass was born in 1832 in today's Montana. He was the war chief of the Nex Perce and along with Chief Joseph lead a retreat from eastern Oregon into Montana and onto the Canadian border in the year 1877.Although he bitterly resented white encroachments on his ancestral lands, he opposed going to war with the United States over its plans to force his people onto the small reservation assigned to them at Lapwai, Idaho. The first confrontation of the United States and the Nez Perce happened in June 17, 1877 at the Whitebird Canyon. Chief Looking Glass was already living on the reservation at Lapwai. However the United STates general, Oliver Howard, had faith that Looking Glass would soon join the fighting. He sent his troops to the reservation to arrest Looking Glass. Howard's plans backfired, however, for Looking Glass eluded arrest and fled the reservation to join Joseph and his fugitive band just as Howard had feared. the Nez Percé flight bore the mark of Looking Glass's leadership. Going against what Joseph suggested, Looking Glass suggested to flee Montana and then stop at the Big Hole. Here he believed that he would keep his band free from attack however he was wrong. An army under the command of John Gibbon surprised Looking Glass on August 9, 1877. Many of the Nez Perce suffered heavy causualities. After this Looking Glass lost much of his prestige as a military leader. Nearly two months later, when the Nez Percé were finally surrounded by Colonel Nelson Mile's troops in Northern Montana's Bearpaw mountains, Looking Glass opposed surrender. By this time, however, Chief Joseph had decided that surrender was the only realistic option, and on October 5, he rode out to hand over his rifle. That same day, Looking Glass set out to join Sitting Bull's fleet in Canada, but before he could make it to the border, he was killed by a Cheyenne scout
Although he had made one wrong decision and cost the lives of some NEz Perce, Looking GLass did not give up his pride. He remained strong against the opposing forces until his death. He remained loyal to his tribe and was not willing to stop until they remained free and on their resevations. Looking Glass was a noble character for reasons that are uncommon. He main not have won a battle but he remained faithful to himself and tribe.