Song of the Meadowlark — John A. Sanford

The Nez Perce had made their peace with the white settlers who had come into their land, sharing its bounty and their knowledge. But more and more white men came, making greater demands, making promises that were broken. One man, the Peace Chief known as Joseph, called for an end to the madness. And because no one would listen, in the fall of 1877 he gathered 800 of his people and fled into the Rocky Mountain wilderness. It was a desperate bid for freedom, a final run for peace. Teeto Hoonod, a young Nez Perce raised as a Christian, as were many of The People, returned to the Old Ways, to find himself caught in the fury of the perilous journey. For three months Joseph's band outran and outfought the United States Army, only to be forced to surrender just 100 miles from the Canadian border and the freedom they so desperately sought. Song Of The Meadowlark is the story of the last days of a proud and peaceful people, seen through the eyes of Teeto Hoonod.