About the Nez Perce Indians
- Nimi'ipuu means the "real people" or "we the people." In other words, they walked out of the woods and mountains. The adjacent tribes, such as the Shoshone, called them "people under the tule," since they once lived in tule- or reed-covered long houses. By the end of the 19th century, however, they were instead living in conical-shaped homes or teepees. When it was warm in the summer season, the reeds let the air flow through the home. Another name given to this group was "khouse eaters." This is because these Indians were hunters and gatherers. One of the roots collected for food and medicine was named khouse. The French Canadian explorers, on the other hand, called them "Nez Perce "or "pierced nose, " even though this was not common among them.
- The Nez Perce lived in bands, each having its own land and named for the stream or river where it settled. These bands were further divided into smaller groups. A political unit consisted of several bands. A village included several related families and was led by a headman or elder. This leader, who normally inherited the position, had the responsibility of maintaining the betterment of the village. Sometimes he was also the religious leader and healer, or shaman. The largest villages also had a band leader over several smaller bands, and a chief of peace and of war. The village council, made up of the band leaders and important warriors, set the policies. Today the Indians have an elected council of nine.
- Because they lived near rivers, mountains and prairies, the Nez Perce had a variety of foods from season to season. In the spring, the women dug up roots in the valleys, and the men caught salmon in the rivers. During the middle of summer, they climbed the mountains and lived in temporary settlements. Here they collected roots and fish and hunted large game. As fall turned into winter, they returned to their villages by the rivers and ate fish, roots and berries. Fish, game, dried roots and berries provided winter food. Some of the men were sent out to kill deer and elk that lived in the hills and by rivers. They also ate moose, bear, sheep, goats, bison, antelope and birds. Presently, they still eat deer, elk and salmon as well as modern foods.
- The men wore long buckskin shirts with fringe, leather leggings, a breechcloth and belt and varied moccasins. Sometimes they also put on gloves. By the time the settlers had arrived, they were dressed in elaborate feathered headpieces. When it was cold, the men wore robes made of bison skin. Women dressed in long, belted buckskin dresses, corn husk basketry hats and knee-high moccasins. Their clothes were adorned with elk teeth, shell beads, bone and porcupine quills and were tinted with vegetable and mineral dyes. Both men and women painted their faces for ceremonies or special events.
Today Nimi'ipuu wear their traditional clothing at powwows, rituals and memorials. - Although many of the Nez Perce have become Christian over the centuries, the original religion is kept alive from generation to generation through telling stories and celebrating ceremonies. Nature is very important to these Indians and is a part of their celebrations. One of the most well-known chiefs was Chief Joseph, who was the headman during the middle and late 19th century when the Europeans began arriving. He believed that these two different cultures could live peacefully together but soon found differently. In 1877, the Nez Perce tribes unsuccessfully fought to keep their land. They fled and were chased by the Army for nearly 2,000 miles. When they reached Montana, Chief Joseph surrendered and said, ":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."