A statue of Chief Joseph as a young man stands in Enterprise, Oregon, and the state might send a similar version to Washington, D.C. Photo by Visitor7 / Wikipedia

The states of Idaho and Oregon are clashing over who has a right to claim the legacy of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Tribe.

Joseph was born on tribal territory in Oregon and his father, Old Chief Joseph, is buried on treaty-ceded lands there. So the state is claiming the legendary leader as its potential representative in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.

But neighboring Idaho, where the Nez Perce Tribe is based, is crying foul. Although the state has no plans to place Chief Joseph at the U.S. Capitol, Gov. Butch Otter (R) is also staking a claim to the leader.

"Chief Joseph's story and legacy in the Northwest is indeed historically notable," Otter wrote in a letter to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D), according to news reports. "But a close examination of history may indicate a more significant historical tie to Idaho than any other state in our region. I therefore would urge a careful analysis of the chief's history, and I will be grateful for your kind consideration of Idaho in this regard."

Despite Otter's claims of exclusivity, Chief Joseph remains connected to several states. He refused to move his band to a smaller reservation in Idaho after a treaty forced the Nez Perce to give up their lands in Oregon and Washington.

Chief Joseph started leading his people away from Idaho in an attempt to move to Canada before he was stopped by U.S. military forces in Montana. He was later kept as a prisoner of war in Kansas and his band was forced to move to Oklahoma.

The leader went to Washington, D.C., to plead for a return to the Nez Perce homelands in the Northwest. But instead of being sent there, he was moved to the Colville Reservation in Washington and was buried there in 1904.

Each state has two representatives in the National Hall. The 100th statue that was installed was Pueblo leader Po'pay for New Mexico in 2005.

Idaho is considering replacing its current representatives, a practice allowed under a 2000 federal law. The Statuary Hall Study Commission is recommending Chief Joseph and Abigail Scott Duniway, a women's rights advocate.

“The next chapter would be the latter part of the 19th century and the early 20th century, a story told by Abigail Scott Duniway who fought for women’s rights and equal rights, and Chief Joseph who stands as an iconic representative of Native Americans who were here in Oregon,” Kerry Tymchuk, the executive director of the Oregon Historical Society, told The Portland Tribune.

The final decision on the statue rests with the Oregon Legislature. Key lawmakers -- including Sen. Ted Ferrioli (R), the Senate minority leader and a descendant of Chief Joseph -- don't seem to be too worried by Otter's claim of exclusivity.

“If Idaho wants to claim him, well, he might be the first person back there with two statues,” Rep. Peter Courtney (D), the Senate majority leader, said at a hearing last Thursday, The Albany Democrat-Herald reported.

If Oregon approves Chief Joseph, he would be the eighth Native person in the National Statuary Hall. In addition to Po'Pay, the other Native representatives are: Sarah Winnemucca, Paiute for Nevada; Sakakawea, Shoshone for North Dakota; Chief Washakie, Shoshone for Wyoming; King Kamehameha, Native Hawaiian for Hawaii, Will Rogers, Cherokee for Okahoma; and Sequoyah, Cherokee for Oklahoma.

Get the Story:
Idaho gov tries to claim Chief Joseph for his state (The Albany Democrat-Herald 4/12)
Idaho challenges Oregon over Chief Joseph statue (The Salem Statesman-Journal 4/10)
Panel OKs statues of Indian chief, suffragette (The Portland Tribune 3/10)

Related Stories:
Pueblo leader completes National Statuary Hall (9/23)
Paiute activist takes place at National Statuary Hall (03/10)
Native woman receives long overdue recognition (10/17)