In this source, Chief Joseph states the colonists were using violent force and killing the Indians, all of which began before the American Indian Policy of 1881 was proposed. Chief Joseph claimed that all he wanted to do was live in peace among the white men. That he did not want to see anymore of his people be slaughtered. And that it was possible for the two to live in peace among each other as long as the Americans did not strip them of their culture. The letter was written in hopes of gaining sympathy from Washington. This connects with the theme of settlers trying to eradicate Native Americans while claiming they were trying to use assimilation for good.