Nez Perce

Northwestern Fights and Fighters

The Epic of the Nez Percé: Refusing life on a government-selected reservation, Chief Joseph, Chief Looking Glass, Chief White Bird, Chief Ollokot, Chief Lean Elk, and others led nearly 750 Nez Perce men, women, and children and twice that many horses over 1,170 miles through Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana mountains, on a trip that lasted from June to October of 1877, until checked by Miles just short of the Canadian border at Bear Paw Mountain (1877). This manuscript depicts their story.

Nez Percé Indians

Nez Percé Indians. A French appellation signifying “pierced noses.” Also called: Â’dal-k’ato’igo, Kiowa name, signifying “people with hair cut across the forehead.” Anípörspi, Calapooya name. A-pa-o-pa, Atsina name (Long, 1823). A-pū-pe’, Crow name, signifying “to paddle,” “paddles.” Blue Muds, name applied by traders. Chopunnish, Lewis and Clark. Green Wood Indians, Henry-Thompson Journal. I’-na-cpĕ, Quapaw name. Kamŭ’inu, own name. Ko-mun’-i-tup’-i-o, Siksika name. Mikadeshitchísi, Kiowa Apache name. Nimipu, own name, signifying “the people.” Pa ka’-san-tse, Osage name, signifying “plaited hair over the forehead.” Pe ga’-zan-de, Kansa name. Pierced Noses, English translation of name. Po’-ge-hdo-ke, Dakota name. Sa-áptin, Okanagon name. Shi’wanǐsh, Tenino name … Read more

Nez Percé and Shoshone Indian Lands in Idaho

The Native Races of Idaho were divided by the Salmon River Range of mountains, the Nez Percé being the representative nation of the northern division, and the Shoshones of the southern. The condition and character of the former were relatively higher than those of the latter. During the five years’ war from 1863 to 1868, the history of which I have given, the Nez Percé remained quiescent, taking no part in the hostilities, although they were not without their grievances, which might have tempted other savages to revolt. The troubles to which I here refer began in 1855, with the treaties … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Eliza Warren

MRS. ELIZA WARREN. – All will feel the deepest interest in this intelligent and refined woman, seeing that she is the daughter of the missionary, Reverend H.H. Spalding. She is the “Eliza” whose name has become familiar in the many narratives touching upon the history of Oregon. Not only in her historical but in her own personal character, she well deserves the consideration of her friends, whose number is that of all Oregonians. Her father’s consecration and her mother’s life of the utmost devotion reappear in her own, although not now projected upon the black background of tragedy as was … Read more