NEZ PERCE INDIANS IN IDAHO

THESE FOLKS WERE PEOPLE OF THE CANYONS OR NIMI' PUU LAND, AND RELIED ON RIVERS. THEIR SEASONAL ROUND OF SUBSISTENCE. IN SPRING WOMEN DUG ROOTS IN LOWER VALLEYS. THE MEN TRAVELED TO COLUMBIA RIVER FOR THE EARLY SALMO SALMON RUNS. THEY ALSO HUNTED IN THE SPRING. IN SUMMER ALL PEOPLE IN A VALLEY TO HIGHER MOUNTAINS AREAS FOR TEMPORARY CAMPS TO GATHER ROOT CROPS, FISH, AND HUNT BIG GAME. BY FALL THEY CAME BACK DOWN ON THEIR RIVER VILLAGES. DRIED ROOTS AND BERRIES AND SALMON WERE PUT INTO THEIR STORAGE. HUNTERS TRAVELED TO HILLS AND RIVER BOTTOMS WHERE DEER AND ELK WINTERED.



POOLS GATHERED FOR WINTER INCLUDED CAMA, BITTER ROOT, GUAVAS, WILD CARROT, WILD POTATOES, AND OTHER ROOTS. THEY COLLECTED SERVICE BERRIES. THORNBERRIES, ELDERBERRIES, HUCKLEBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, STRAWBERRIES AND PINE NUTS, AND MOSS. THEY HUNTED GAME - DEER, ELK, MOOSE, BEAR, GRIZZLY), MOUNTAIN SHEEP, AND GOATS. AFTER THEY BECAME HORSEMEN THEY HUNTED BUFFALO AND ANTELOPE. THEY SMOKED AND STORED THE MEAT. TODAY THEY EAT RESTAURANT FOODS AS WELL.



THEY LIVED IN PEACEFUL GROUPS AND SEASONALLY TRAVELED ACROSS OREGON, WASHINGTON, AND IDAHO. THEIR TERRITORY WAS NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO. THEY ORIGINALLY HAD 17 MILLION ACRES. THEY LIVED IN BANDS BASED ON VARIOUS VALLEYS AND SMALLER BANDS ALONG RIVERS. THERE WERE EXTENDED FAMILIES LIVING IN A VILLAGE LED BY A HEADSMAN. HE ATTENDED TO THE WELFARE OF THE VILLAGE MEMBERS, HE COULD BE A SHAMAN OR AN INHERITED POSITION. THEIR COUNCILS WERE MADE UP OF BAND LEADERS AND WARRIORS. THEY MADE IMPORTANT DECISIONS.



THEY WORE BUCKSKIN SHIRTS AND LEGGINGS AND SEVERAL MOCCASINS. GLOVES WERE OCCASIONALLY WORN BY THE MEN. THEY MADE FEATHERED BONNETS. IN WINTER THEY WORE BISON ROBES. WOMEN WORE LONG BELTED BUCKSKIN SKIRTS, AND CORN HUSK BASKET HATS. THEY USED ELK TEETH TO DECORATE THEIR DRESSES. AT POWWOWS THEY WEAR THIS TRADITIONAL OUTFIT. THEY ALL PAINTED THEIR FACES.



THEIR MAIN HOUSE WAS TULE MAT COVERED LONG HOUSE. SOME WERE USED FOR CEREMONIAL PURPOSES. HEARTHS WERE IN THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE, USED BY SEVERAL FAMILIES. EVENTUALLY TIPIS WERE USED INSTEAD OF LONG HOUSES. THEY HAD POLES COVERED WITH TULE MATS COVERS. EVENTUALLY THROUGH TRADE THEY USED CANVAS COVERS. A CIRCULAR SEMI SUBTERRANEAN PLATEAU. THE WOMEN HAD THEIR MENSTRUAL HUTS AND SUBMERGED IN HOT BATH.



THEY USED BOWS, OBSIDIAN AND CHERT PROJECTILE POINTS AND ATLATLS FOR HUNTING. IN 2004 THE NEZ PERCE NUMBERED THE PEOPLE NUMBERED 3400. THESE PEOPLE WERE TRAVELERS TO PREDETERMINED AREAS VS, NOMADICS OR WANDERING AIMLESSLY. THE NEZ PERCE PEOPLE HELPED LEWIS AND CLARK IN THEIR TRAVELS AND AT TIMES WERE WARRIORS





NEZ PERCE. ORG