Origin of the Name

The name "Nez Perce" comes from the French phrase meaning "pierced nose." Early French explorers and fur traders gave the tribe this name after encountering some neighboring groups with nose piercings. However, the Nez Perce themselves traditionally did not practice nose piercing. They call themselves Nimiipuu, meaning "the people," which reflects their deep sense of community and identity.

Range

The Nez Perce traditionally lived in the Plateau region of the Pacific Northwest, with territory covering parts of present-day Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. Their homeland stretched along the Clearwater, Snake, and Salmon Rivers, with access to the rich fishing areas of the Columbia River. Seasonal movement was important: they wintered in sheltered river valleys, fished and gathered roots in spring, and traveled eastward onto the Great Plains for buffalo hunts in summer.

Diet

The Nez Perce diet reflected the diversity of their homelands. Salmon was the staple, caught in huge quantities during the annual runs and dried for winter storage. They hunted deer, elk, mountain sheep, and, after acquiring horses in the 1700s, joined buffalo hunts on the plains. Plant foods such as camas bulbs, bitterroot, and huckleberries were gathered in abundance, often baked in earth ovens or dried into cakes. These foods carried not only nutritional value but also spiritual meaning—camas was considered a sacred gift of the Creator.

Home Type

The Nez Perce built different types of homes depending on the season. In winter, they lived in large semi-subterranean earth lodges covered with layers of soil and grasses, which kept warmth inside. In warmer months or on buffalo hunts, they stayed in tipis made of wooden poles and buffalo hides, which were portable and ideal for travel. These flexible housing styles reflected their adaptability to different environments.

Culture

The Nez Perce developed a vibrant cultural life that combined spirituality, artistry, and deep ties to the natural world. After acquiring horses around 1700, they became expert riders and breeders, producing the famous Appaloosa horse. The spotted Appaloosas were not only strong and swift but also a source of tribal pride, often decorated with paint, beads, and feathers.

Nez Perce with an Appaloosa Horse (c. 1895)

Spiritual beliefs centered on a living world filled with powerful spirits. Children and young adults often went on vision quests, fasting and praying alone in the wilderness to gain guardian spirits who would protect and guide them. Ceremonies such as the First Salmon Feast honored the return of salmon each spring, with rituals to thank the spirits of the fish for sustaining the people. This ensured balance between humans and nature.

The Nez Perce also carried a rich body of myths. One well-known story tells of Coyote, the trickster and cultural hero, who shaped the land and rivers. According to legend, Coyote killed a great monster that had swallowed all the animals. Cutting the monster’s body into pieces, he scattered them across the land, creating the different tribes. He left the Nez Perce in their homeland, giving them responsibility for the rivers and salmon. Such stories explained not only the world’s creation but also the Nez Perce’s role within it.

Weyekins

Among the Nez Perce, a weyekin (sometimes spelled wyakin) is a personal spirit guardian that provides strength, guidance, and protection throughout life. Young people traditionally sought their weyekin during a vision quest, a rite of passage that involved fasting, solitude, and prayer in the wilderness. The spirit might reveal itself through an animal, a natural force, or a dream, and once gained, it remained a lifelong helper. The weyekin was deeply personal—it was not worshiped but respected as a sacred companion linking the individual to the spirit world. This practice reflected the Nez Perce belief that all of nature was alive with power and that humans lived in constant relationship with the spiritual forces around them.

Warfare

The Nez Perce were generally peaceful but defended their lands fiercely when threatened. Traditionally, they fought with bows, arrows, war clubs, and later rifles. They painted their horses and faces with symbolic designs before battle. In the 19th century, as settlers encroached on their homelands, they became skilled guerrilla fighters, using knowledge of rivers, mountains, and valleys to outmaneuver U.S. soldiers.

The Nez Perce War of 1877 is the most famous chapter of their military history. It began after the U.S. government attempted to force all Nez Perce onto a reservation in Idaho. Led by leaders like Chief Joseph, Looking Glass, and White Bird, around 750 Nez Perce men, women, and children embarked on a 1,200-mile retreat through Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, fighting several battles against pursuing U.S. forces. Despite winning tactical victories, they were eventually surrounded in the Bear Paw Mountains, just 40 miles from the Canadian border. Chief Joseph’s surrender speech—“I will fight no more forever”—remains one of the most famous in Native American history.

Chief Joseph

History Timeline

• Pre-1700s: Nez Perce live in the Plateau region, relying on salmon fishing, hunting, and gathering roots such as camas.
• 1700s: Horses introduced; Nez Perce become renowned breeders and begin buffalo hunts on the Great Plains.
• 1805: Lewis and Clark Expedition encounters the Nez Perce, who provide food, guidance, and safe passage.
• 1855: Treaty of Walla Walla sets aside a large reservation, but gold discoveries soon reduce Nez Perce lands drastically.
• 1877: Nez Perce War—Chief Joseph leads retreat toward Canada; surrender marks loss of homeland freedom.
• Late 1800s–1900s: Nez Perce confined to reservations; cultural traditions challenged but never lost.
• Today: The Nez Perce Tribe is based in Idaho, preserving their language, horse culture, and traditional ceremonies while exercising sovereignty through their tribal government.

Discussion Questions

1. What does the name "Nimiipuu" reveal about the Nez Perce’s sense of identity compared to the French name "Nez Perce"?
2. How did the Nez Perce’s relationship with the natural world shape their diet, housing, and ceremonies?
3. What lessons can be learned from the Nez Perce myths, such as the story of Coyote and the monster?
4. In what ways does Chief Joseph’s surrender speech continue to resonate in American history and culture?