Q is for quell

For a few months in 1877 and 1,170 miles throughout Idaho, Oregon and Montana, the United States Army pursued and fought several bands of Nez Perce as they fought a brilliant move across much of Idaho. The object of the US Army's campaign was to quell one of the last Indian uprisings in the still young United States. The route of this 1877 Nez Perce rebellion, went through Middle Fork country and crossed some of the same paths that Lewis and Clark had used 70+ years earlier. The Nez Perce came through Lemhi Pass and asked Sacajawea's tribe for help. It was not given and the Nez Perce moved on through the Lemhi Valley and into history, following several battles and ending just short of the Canadian border, where Chief Joseph is said to have made his speech ending in "..from where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.."

A sad tale and many would say shameful, viewed through the prism of today's sensibilities. For me, it is yet one more example of cultures not understanding each other. The differences are phenomenal. One content to survive, the other culture aggressive and hard charging, believing in manifest destiny and having no respect for those already occupying the land in question.

Clearly the USA's current notion of democracy building started early, right here on this continent, with our ancestors clearly expecting everyone to obey the 1800's version of "..my way or the highway..". Lots of wrong in what was done to Native America. No do-overs either. Nothing to be proud of, yet most would say that the end justifies the means. I guess that depends on who you ask.