1. Nez Perce
"Hear me, my chiefs, I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

2. Where did the Nez Perce Live?
In the Pacific Northwest Region, which includes the states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho
The area has mountains, plateau,
forests, grasslands, and rivers
Plateau- large area of high flat land
Hot dry summers
Moderately cold winters with snow
Temperatures depended on elevation
ALWAYS a lot of rain

3. Use the Resources Streams & rivers to catch salmon and other fish
Meadows & forests for hunting bear, deer, and elk
Rabbits & squirrels to be trapped
Vegetation to gather roots, nuts, seeds, and berries

4. Where did they get their name?
The tribe officially called themselves “Nimi’ipuu” (The People)
The French renamed the “Nez Perce” which in French means “pierced nose.”
A French interpreter gave the group the name after he saw them wearing shells in their nose for decoration.
Nose piercings are NOT a regular custom of the tribe.

5. On the Go Moved around due to season changes
Spring: women to the valley to gather roots; men to the river to catch salmon
Summer: higher elevations to hunt
Traveled mostly by foot or canoe (hollowed out log)
Used travois for carrying small loads (dog sled)

6. SHELTER
Lived in villages usually along rivers or streams with lots of extended family
Several TYPES of homes:
Long-House (summer) 60 ft. long
Pit-House (winter) dug down and hole at top
Teepees (traveling) idea from Pawnee
Covered with TULE woven mats

7. The Nez Perce Men…
Made bows from the horns of mountain sheep for hunting
Boys developed sufficient hunting skills
Trained Appaloosa horses
Became experts in horse-riding skills
Spent the winter playing games and telling stories
Played sports to help train them to hunt

8. Appaloosa Horses European settlers brought horses to North America
Nez Perce developed the American Breed
Known for their preferred leopard-spotted coat
Sadly, many Nez Perce people lost their Appaloosa horses following the end of the Nez Perce War in 1877 (many white settlers wanted the Nez Perce territory in order to make an open ranch for cattle)

9. The Nez Perce Women…
Taught girls traditional skills of cooking, weaving, and basketry
The cornhusk bags that women wove from hemp fiber were important for daily use and for trade
Women gathered roots, nuts, seeds, and berries

10. What did they eat?
The food they gathered and the game they hunted varied with the seasons
In the spring, women traveled to the valleys to dig root crops (camas bulbs, bitterroot, wild carrot, and wild potato). They gathered berries (gooseberries, thorn berries and currents)
Women also collected pine nuts, seeds and black moss
In the summer, people moved higher in the mountains. Here they gathered more roots, fished the streams for salmon and hunted big game
Men hunted deer, elk, moose, bear, mountain sheep and goat

11. What did they eat?
They traveled by horse to the Montana plains to hunt buffalo and antelope
They also hunted small game like rabbit, squirrel and badger
In the late fall, the Nez Perce moved back into their traditional villages where they prepared for the long winter by drying and preserving food

12. Men’s Clothing
Men and boys wore long fringed buckskin shirts and leggings
They wore belts, breechcloths, and moccasins
During colder weather, men put on bison skin robes and gloves
Feathered bonnets

13. Women’s Clothing
Long, belted buckskin dresses and knee- length moccasins
Dresses were decorated with elk teeth, beads made of shell and bone and porcupine quills
Used vegetable and mineral dyes to color the clothing
Wore cornhusk basketry for hats
Carried babies on their backs in “cradleboards”

14. Ceremonies Were held to assure good harvests
Music and dance were central to the ceremonies
People played rattles, drums and flutes
There were ceremonial songs and chants for births, marriages, deaths, hunting and for war

15. Things to ponder…
How are the Nez Perce similar/different form the Pawnee?
How are the Nez Perce similar/different from you?
How does living in the Pacific Northwest affect the Nez Perce tribe?