Since time immemorial, the valleys, prairies, mountains and plateaus of the inland northwest have been home to the nimíipuu (Nez Perce) people. Their history, culture, religion, language, art, music, foods, tools, clothing, building materials and Appaloosa horses all reflected the abundance of their beautiful homeland.

 

Their first encounter with non-indigenous people in their homeland were the members of the Lewis & Clark Expedition in 1805, who fought for survival in early snows crossing the Bitterroot Mountains but were treated with hospitality by the Nez Perce. Fast forward fifty years, and the Nez Perce reluctantly signed a treaty with the U.S. government in 1855 that gave them exclusive use of their homeland in north central Idaho, southeastern Washington, and northeastern Oregon. 

 

Five years later, gold was discovered on the reservation in 1860-1862, and miners and settlers flooded onto the reservation. Unsurprisingly, settlers pushed for land and the U.S. government through unsavory dealings forced some Nez Perce to sign a second treaty in 1866 that relinquished 90% of their original homeland reservation. Many Nez Perce leaders refused to sign the treaty, eventually leading to conflicts and a war between the non-treaty Nez Perce and the U.S. Army in 1877.

 

During the War of 1877, more than 800 non-treaty Nez Perce fled the U.S. Army for 1,170 miles across parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and ultimately surrendered at the Bear Paw Battlefield in northern Montana, just 40 miles from freedom in Canada. Some Nez Perce escaped to Canada, while the rest (including Chief Joseph) were taken in exile to Kansas and Oklahoma, where many died. Eventually, they were allowed to return to the Inland Northwest, but not all returned to the Nez Perce Reservation in north central Idaho. Some (including Chief Joseph) were sent to the Colville Reservation in Washington and the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon, not to their homelands in the Wallowa Valley and Idaho. So today's Nez Perce people live on all three reservations.

 

Nez Perce culture, language, art, and land stewardship live on today through their elders, teachers, artists, scientists, business leaders, and economic and tourism development professionals. The links below provide more information and Nez Perce people, history, culture, and programs today.

 

-Nez Perce Tribe, Lapwai, Idaho:  https://nezperce.org/

-Repatriation of Nez Perce artifacts:  https://nezperce.org/renaming/ 

-Nimiipuu Community Development Fund:  https://nimiipuufund.org/

-Buy Nez Perce Small Business Program:  https://buynezperce.org/ 

 

-Chief Joseph Band of Nez Perce living on the Colville Reservation, Washington:  https://www.colvilletribes.com/

-History Story Map:  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bb31cd48d0284fa59d6f454cafabe962 

 

-Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland, Wallowa, Oregon:  https://www.wallowanezperce.org/ 

-Nez Perce people living on the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon:  https://ctuir.org/

-Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Joseph, Oregon:  https://josephy.org/ 

-Tamkaliks Celebration and Friendship Feast, Wallowa, Oregon:  https://www.wallowanezperce.org/tamkaliks

 

Nez Perce National Historical Park:  https://www.nps.gov/nepe/index.htm