The subject of Chief Joseph's comments refer to Native Americans being forced into reservations by white settlers, also known as the reservation system. The reservation system was put together by the United States government as a way to boost land, populated with white settlers, that was once populated by Native Americans. Chief Joseph believes that white settlers are practically setting up Native Americans to fail within this system. He compares the natives to a horse by stating that they need freedom to be happy and healthy, just like the animal. Chief Joseph uses the words; contented, grow, and prosper, to describe what a healthy living situation is, while implying it is impossible for Indians to obtain this if they are restricted from what
