The Nez Perce tribe originally occupied lands throughout the upper northwest portion of the United States and is estimated to have had 6,000 members. The tribe assisted the Lewis and Clark expedition as it made its way across the region, but ultimately conflicts with the U.S. army in the late 1800s resulted in costly battles against superior weaponry, deadly forced moves to other regions, the loss of traditional hunting and fishing grounds and exposure to disease. The Nez Perce cite current tribal membership at about 3,360; most Nez Perce members live on reservations in Idaho and Washington.
The Nez Perce were a migratory hunting and fishing tribe. They built semi-permanent villages where they lived in the winter, consisting of earth houses dug into the ground and covered with a wooden frame, earth and large woven mats called tule mats. In the warmer months, they followed the migration of animal herds and set up temporary settlements with portable buffalo-skin teepees. The Nez Perce used traditional dugout canoes for fishing, trading and travel and were also very skilled horsemen. They banded together with other Plains tribes to defend against tribal enemies and later encroachment by prospectors, miners and the U.S. Army.
In the Nez Perce tribe, women traditionally cared for the family and were responsible for preparing food and making clothing; they also were skilled artisans, making beautiful quill work, baskets and paintings. Men did the hunting and fighting. Only men could be tribal chiefs. Clothing was made mainly of animal skins and decorated with porcupine quills, shells, beads and painted designs. The Nez Perce are known for their knee-high moccasins; worn by both men and women, these were warm and practical but also decorated with detailed bead work. They were mistakenly given the name Nez Perce, which means "pierced noses"; the tribe actually never engaged in this practice.
One of the most famous Nez Perce Indians was Chief Joseph. He was born in 1840 in what is now Oregon; his Indian name translated to Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain. He became Chief in 1871 when his father died, and he continued his father's resistance to the U.S. government's efforts to force the Nez Perce off their traditional lands onto small reservations. He fought off such efforts for several years, but ultimately surrendered in 1877; he is well-known for his surrender speech which included the now-famous phrase "I will fight no more forever." He ended up on a small Nez Perce reservation in northern Washington state, far from traditional tribal lands; he died there in 1904.
The Nez Perce today live on two reservations--the largest is in Lapwai, Idaho, with a smaller one in Colville in north central Washington state. The reservations are self-governed by tribal councils and follow tribal customs and regulations; however, the tribes must also follow U.S. laws. Present-day Nez Perce live mostly in standard homes and wear modern dress; children attend school while adults work at jobs in the local economy. Tourism is a big part of the reservations' revenue stream--periodic art shows, festivals and other events draw tourists to visit the reservations and observe traditional dances and ceremonies.
