[1] He is notable as one of the few members of the defeated Nez Perce to talk openly to strangers and tell their story to the world.

"[1] He was concerned that the next generation of Native Americans would continue to suffer under white oppression, and wrote to help them.

"[1] In his interviews with McWhorter, Yellow Wolf makes it clear that there was increasing pressure placed upon the Native Americans as thousands of white men invaded the Wallowa Valley, especially after the beginning of a gold rush.

[6] In addition to that, the representatives of the U.S. government who came to talk to them seemed to be going out of their way to be insulting, or at least took no effort to understand cultural sensitivities.

[6] It was against native tradition to use threats or force (called "showing the rifle") during peace talks, which is exactly what General Oliver O. Howard did.

"[6] In spite of this the rest of the Nez Perce leaders at the council still tried to hold the peace, but some of the younger generation took matters into their own hands.

[6] But after the insult by General Howard, he got two cousins, Sarpsis Ilppilp (Red Moccasin Tops) and Wetyetmas Wahyakt (Swan Necklace) to help him kill that man.

[5] In his book, Yellow Wolf makes it clear that his group did not agree to the treaty that was put upon them by "armed enforcement.

"[6] The Nez Perce tribes were not unified, and that just because some of them had signed the "thief treaty" did not mean they spoke for everyone.

[3] Yellow Wolf did not want to talk about the names of his childhood, because he was limiting focus to his adult life.

[3] Another of Yellow Wolf's warrior names was Pahkar Tamkikeechet (Five Times Looking Through, or Fifteen Lightnings).

[3] "My kopluts [war club] I made when a boy, by directions of the Spirit that gave me promise of warrior power.

Yellow Wolf's native name was spelled He-Men-Mox-Mox, He-Min-Mox-Mox in the census records.

[6] Others including Yellow Wolf, who settled on the Colville Reservation, followed their native religion, which McWhorter called the "Dreamer Faith".

[6] In Yellow Wolf's words, "We believed in our own Hunyewat [God, or Deity], We had our own Ahkunkenekoo [Land Above].

[6] The native faith included a perception that the things around them (animals, trees, rocks, wind, sky) had spirits.

[9] Yellow Wolf attributed his success in the Nez Perce War to his Wyakin, which was strong.

One of the effects of the Dreamer Faith on Yellow Wolf's tribe was to adopt pacifist methods to dealing with force.

[10] Yellow Wolf speaks of the tribal leaders refusal to use violence to deal with the white soldiers.

[11] Even using threats of force was taboo with them, and it led to Toohoolhoolzote being locked up for passive resistance during a counsel with General Howard.

[11] Not all of the tribe held to these beliefs, and violence erupted, leading to the Nez Perce War of 1877.

[11] Their non-violent struggle ultimately became a flight from the US Army, and then a war; as McWhorter said in Yellow Wolf's book, "Every warrior interviewed on the subject testified to his advocacy for peace; but after the irretrievable step had been taken, he promptly took up the rifle.