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around the sides for insulation. An open space in the centre of the roof, allowed for the escape of smoke. On the inside were ranged fires along the centre at a distance of 10 to 12 feet (3.0 to 3.7 m) apart, each fire serving two families on opposite sides of the house, the family sections being sometimes separated by mat curtains. One house might shelter more than one hundred persons. Lewis and Clark mention one large enough to accommodate nearly fifty families. On temporary expeditions, they raised buffalo-skin
354:, with a marked absence of elaborate myth or ritual. The principal religious event in the life of the boy or girl was the dream vigil. After solitary fasting for several days, the child was encouraged to have a vision of the spirit animal that was to be his or her tutelary through life. Dreams were the great source of spiritual instruction, and children were taught how to interpret and understand them. The principal ceremonial was the dance to the tutelary spirit, next to which in importance was the scalp dance.
489:(1877). After successfully holding in check for some months the regular Army troops and a large force of Indian scouts, Joseph, Looking Glass, and other chiefs conducted a retreat to the north for over a thousand miles across the mountains. They were intercepted by the US Army and forced to surrender within a short distance of the Canadian frontier. Despite the promise that he should be returned to his own country, Joseph and the remnant of his band were deported to Indian Territory (now
27:
527:
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Furniture consisted chiefly of bed platforms. The women made varieties of baskets and bags woven of rushes or grass, and used wooden mortars for pounding roots. They used no pottery. They made spoons of horn from deer or bison. The woman had a digging stick for gathering roots, which they were given
293:
There were also temporary sweat-houses, used in turn by both sexes. It had a framework of willow rods, covered with blankets, and heated stones were brought inside from fires. The menstrual lodge was constructed for the seclusion of women during the menstrual period, and for a short period before and
277:
Their permanent houses were communal structures, sometimes circular, but more often oblong, about 20 feet (6.1 m) in width and 60 to 90 feet (18 to 27 m) in length, with a framework of poles covered by rush mats. In the interior, the floor was dug below the ground level, and earth banked up
465:
of the
Wallowa band refused to sign the new treaty, stating that the Treaty of 1855 was promised to be the rule of law for "as long as the sun shines," and was supposedly to protect their home land from white intrusion. Since Nez Percés custom dictated that no single chief spoke for all others, when
481:
Chief Joseph steadfastly refused to be a party to the treaty or to its terms, relenting only when it became clear that the survival of his people depended on it. But as they made the arduous trek out of their home land and to the new reservation, a small group of young Nez Percés warriors broke off
244:
In 1805 the
Sahaptin numbered, according to the most reliable estimates, probably over 6,000. Through the 19th century, their numbers declined sharply, due largely to mortality from new infectious diseases. Contributing causes were incessant wars with the more powerful Blackfeet in earlier years; a
289:
and menstrual lodges. The permanent sweat-house was a shallow subterranean excavation, roofed with poles and earth and bedded with grass. The young and unmarried men slept here during the winter season. They occasionally performed sweat ceremonies by steam produced by pouring water upon hot stones
310:
Sahaptins, although semi-sedentary, were traditionally hunter-gatherers. The women gathered and processed many wild roots and berries, sometimes combining them with cooked meats and drying the mixture. Aside from fish and game, chiefly salmon and deer, their principal foods were the roots of the
422:
When the
Catholic Bishop Brouillet arrived, who had intended to meet with Whitman about purchase of the mission property, he was allowed to bury the dead. He warned Spaulding so that he could leave the area and reach safety. Because of the troubles, all the Presbyterian missions in the Columbia
346:
Interment was in the ground, and the personal belongings of the deceased were deposited with the body. The dwelling was torn down or removed to another spot. The new house was ceremonially purified and the ghost exorcised. The end of the official mourning period was marked with a funeral feast.
294:
after childbirth. It was a subterranean structure, considerably larger than the sweat-house, and entered by means of a ladder from above. The occupants cooked their meals alone and were not allowed to touch any articles used by outsiders, because of beliefs about the power of blood.
477:
But, General Howard reportedly gathered numerous other Nez Percé to make their "X" on the document, to give the appearance that Joseph and the other chiefs had signed the treaty. In the eyes of the U.S. government, they would also be subject to its terms.
237:, possibly another form of Saptin. The popular and official name of the Nez Percé, "Pierced Noses", was originally given to the people by French-Canadian trappers. The term referred to the people's former custom of wearing a
474:) refused to sign the treaty, it was done so with the understanding that the U.S. Government was still bound by their original agreement. Only Lawyer's band would be bound by the new treaty that only they signed.
301:
The men conducted hunting and fishing, and were armed with a bow and arrows, lance (stone or silver strung to willow branch), shield, and fishing equipment. A protective skin helmet was fashioned for warriors.
327:). The camas roots were roasted in pits. Kouse was ground in mortars and molded into cakes for future use. Women were primarily responsible for the gathering and preparing of these root crops.
438:. For fifty years it was conducted by Joseph Cataldo, S.J., who gave attention also to the neighbouring tribes. The Catholic Indians were reported in the early 20th century at over 500.
269:
The clan system was unknown. Chiefs were elective rather than hereditary, governing by assistance of the council. Their bands were decentralized and there was no supreme tribal chief.
392:. Two years later, he set up a printing press and published some small pamphlets in the native language. Regular Catholic work in the same region began with the advent of Fathers
195:
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and other infectious diseases following the occupation of the country by miners after 1860; losses in the war of 1877 and subsequent removals; and wholesale spread of
780:
829:
340:
628:
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in a rite of adulthood. The women also processed and tanned animal skins, sewing and decorating them for clothing. The women wore a fez-shaped basket hat.
486:
790:
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system, with inheritance in the male line. "The standard of morality, both before and after marriage seems to have been conspicuously high" (Spinden).
497:
in eastern
Washington. Throughout the entire retreat, Joseph's warriors committed no outrages. The main portion of the tribe took no part in the war.
663:
457:, another treaty was negotiated between Nez Percés chief Lawyer (whose band had converted to Christianity and was assimilating to white culture) and
537:
750:
658:
79:
594:
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through the country of the Nez Percé and allied tribes resulted in the passage of many more
European Americans and introduction of an
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819:
714:
471:
446:
In 1855 they sold by treaty a large part of their territory. In the general outbreak of 1855–56, sometimes designated as the
261:
because of outside contact. In 1848 they were officially estimated at 3,000; by 1910 they were officially reported at 1,530.
39:
335:
Marriage occurred at about the age of fourteen. The ceremony was accompanied by communal feasting and giving of presents.
770:
719:
729:
694:
419:
held Dr. Whitman of the
Presbyterian mission as responsible. They killed the minister, his wife and eleven others.
774:
500:
In 1893 the communal land of the Lapwai reservation was distributed to heads of household of the tribe under the
423:
region were discontinued. Missionary work resumed in later years, and many of the Nez Percé became
Presbyterian.
587:
404:, assigned from St. Louis, Missouri, and other Jesuits operated in the Flathead country beginning in 1840.
393:
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to the Nez Percés. By 1820 both they and the
Flathead had voluntarily adopted many of the Catholic forms.
784:
754:
230:
794:
580:
110:
According to early written accounts, Sahaptin-speaking peoples inhabited the southern portion of the
567:
238:
151:
55:
568:
Available online through the
Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection
504:. Remaining lands were opened for sale to white settlers, depriving the Nez Percé of their land.
431:
366:
115:
199:
542:
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Sickness and death, especially of children, were frequently ascribed to the work of ghosts.
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tribe lived to the east. There were additional villages along tributaries, including the
8:
401:
183:
131:
190:, with whom they maintained close friendly relations. They frequently competed with the
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389:
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43:
20:
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633:
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63:
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mission was established in 1837 among the Nez Percés at Lapwai, near the present
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was a term given by the
Salishan tribes and adopted by European Americans. When
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493:). So many died that in 1885 the few who survived were transferred to the
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of the U.S. Army. Lawyer ceded all their land but the Lapwai reservation.
565:. Published for the American Folk-Lore Society by G.E. Stechert & Co.
358:
286:
211:
135:
225:, meaning simply "the people", or "we the people". The name Sahaptin or
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447:
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760:
501:
26:
450:, the Nez Percés, almost alone, remained friendly to the Americans.
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530: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
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Trading posts were first established in the upper Columbia region.
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disease. Frantic because of the many deaths they suffered, the
119:
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was general, but kinship prohibition was enforced. They had a
170:. The western portion of Sahaptin territory was shared with
139:
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and killed numerous white settlers along the Salmon River.
279:
426:
The Catholic work in the tribe was given in charge of the
194:-speaking tribes on their northern border, including the
233:
came through the area in 1805, these people were called
781:
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
241:
shell through a hole bored in the septum of the nose.
46:. The Sahaptin tribes inhabited territory along the
158:rivers. Several villages were located west of the
791:Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
811:
751:Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
162:in southern Washington, including those of the
253:epidemic (1847) from contact with immigrants;
588:
830:Native American tribes in Washington (state)
557:
595:
581:
563:Folk-tales of Salishan and Sahaptin tribes
535:
434:, and centering at St. Joseph's mission,
58:. Sahaptin-speaking peoples included the
441:
206:. They were chronically at war with the
122:. Villages were concentrated along the
25:
485:These events were the catalyst for the
812:
576:
602:
546:. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
400:along the Columbia in 1838). Father
771:Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
744:Tribal governments and reservations
13:
551:
536:Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "
14:
841:
272:
42:tribes who speak dialects of the
825:Native American tribes in Oregon
525:
820:Native American tribes in Idaho
775:Warm Springs Indian Reservation
453:In 1863, in consequence of the
138:from the mouth to close to the
1:
519:
466:Joseph and others (including
380:appealed for missionaries. A
142:border. The closely related
105:
7:
785:Umatilla Indian Reservation
755:Colville Indian Reservation
507:
369:passed on some ideas about
330:
186:, to which belong also the
184:Shahaptian linguistic stock
177:
50:and its tributaries in the
10:
846:
264:
18:
795:Yakama Indian Reservation
743:
687:
611:
407:The establishment of the
394:François Norbert Blanchet
761:Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho
459:General Oliver O. Howard
432:Sisters of Saint Joseph
305:
218:on the east and south.
290:placed in the centre.
31:
19:For the language, see
765:Nez Perce Reservation
543:Catholic Encyclopedia
442:Treaties and conflict
221:They call themselves
29:
495:Colville Reservation
367:Hudson's Bay Company
30:Yakama women in 1911
402:Pierre-Jean De Smet
341:patriarchal kinship
282:or brush shelters.
164:Upper Cowlitz tribe
132:Vantage, Washington
166:, and some of the
32:
804:
803:
688:Prominent figures
514:Sahaptin language
455:discovery of gold
390:Henry H. Spalding
365:employees of the
350:The religion was
160:Cascade mountains
52:Pacific Northwest
44:Sahaptin language
21:Sahaptin language
837:
700:Old Chief Joseph
597:
590:
583:
574:
573:
566:
547:
538:Sahaptin Indians
529:
528:
378:Flathead Indians
317:Camassia quamash
182:They are of the
172:Chinookan tribes
134:, and along the
38:are a number of
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664:Upper Nisqually
607:
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554:
552:Further reading
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468:Toohoolhoolzote
444:
436:Slickpoo, Idaho
430:, aided by the
386:Lewiston, Idaho
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308:
285:They also used
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231:Lewis and Clark
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128:Cascades Rapids
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40:Native American
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487:Nez Percés war
443:
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398:Modeste Demers
388:, by Reverend
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273:Accommodations
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124:Columbia River
112:Columbia Basin
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54:region of the
48:Columbia River
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715:Looking Glass
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659:Upper Cowlitz
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532:public domain
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472:Looking Glass
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361:Canadian and
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325:Lomatium cous
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200:Coeur d'Alene
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56:United States
53:
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45:
41:
37:
28:
22:
806:
705:Chief Joseph
603:
562:
541:
499:
484:
480:
476:
463:Chief Joseph
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425:
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409:Oregon Trail
406:
382:Presbyterian
375:
371:Christianity
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349:
345:
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320:
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309:
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287:sweat-houses
284:
276:
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181:
109:
35:
33:
16:Ethnic group
695:Yellow Bird
669:Walla Walla
629:Lower Snake
559:Boas, Franz
259:consumption
249:fever, and
156:Walla Walla
136:Snake River
126:, from the
88:Walla Walla
80:Lower Snake
814:Categories
720:White Bird
520:References
448:Yakima War
235:Chopunnish
223:Ni Mii Puu
116:Washington
634:Nez Perce
624:Klickitat
502:Dawes Act
352:animistic
239:dentalium
208:Blackfeet
188:Nez Perce
168:Klickitat
152:Deschutes
144:Nez Perce
106:Territory
100:Nez Perce
60:Klickitat
735:Kanasket
730:Kamiakin
725:Colestah
710:Qualchan
654:Umatilla
619:Kittitas
604:Sahaptin
561:(1917).
508:See also
491:Oklahoma
413:epidemic
363:Iroquois
359:Catholic
337:Polygamy
331:Religion
255:smallpox
216:Shoshoni
196:Flathead
192:Salishan
178:Heritage
130:to near
92:Umatilla
64:Kittitas
36:Sahaptin
674:Wanapum
644:Skinpah
612:Nations
606:peoples
534::
428:Jesuits
265:Culture
251:measles
247:wasting
204:Spokane
84:Skinpah
72:Wanapum
679:Yakama
649:Tenino
417:Cayuse
319:) and
227:Saptin
214:, and
154:, and
148:Yakima
120:Oregon
98:, and
96:Tenino
68:Yakama
639:Palus
321:kouse
313:camas
280:tipis
140:Idaho
76:Palus
470:and
396:and
376:The
306:Food
212:Crow
202:and
118:and
34:The
540:".
114:in
816::
210:,
198:,
174:.
150:,
102:.
94:,
90:,
86:,
82:,
78:,
74:,
70:,
66:,
62:,
797:)
793:(
787:)
783:(
777:)
773:(
767:)
763:(
757:)
753:(
596:e
589:t
582:v
323:(
315:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
