Nez Perce National Historic Park, Lapwai, Idaho
The Nez Perce, or NeMePoo, have lived in this area for thousands of years. Even though it is clear that they traveled widely for trade and other reasons, they had never seen non-Indian people before 1805. When an advance party led by William Clark came staggering out of the Bitterroot Mountains on Friday, September 20th of that year – nearly starved, weary and desperately in need of assistance – it was the Nez Perce who provided food for them and the rest of the Corps in the form of camas (a root that was a staple of the Indians’ diet) and salmon. When the men of the Expedition then became ill, perhaps due to the richness of the food or some spoilage of the fish, the Nez Perce did not seize the very real opportunity to kill the strangers, take their 42 guns plus all the ammunition and other goods, and thereby become the most powerful Indian nation of the region. Indeed, the Nez Perce people became true friends of the Corps, highly regarded by them as evidenced in the journals.
Thirty-three years after the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through their homeland, a couple named Spalding came to live among the Nez Perce as missionaries. As a favor to a friend, Henry Spalding collected Nez Perce artifacts and sent them to the east coast where they remained essentially untouched for over 150 years. When the artifacts resurfaced, the Nez Perce were able to buy the “Spalding Collection” back as a result of strenuous fund-raising efforts. Today the Collection, as well as other artifacts including one of only four Jefferson Peace Medals on display in the world, is housed at one of the 38 sites that together comprise the Nez Perce National Historic Park.
After a day of either jetboating in Hells Canyon or touring Lewis and Clark campsites in the Clearwater River Valley, we all gathered to learn more about the NeMePoo people on a guided tour of the museum that contains the Collection. Enjoying the history and beauty of these precious cultural artifacts was a fitting end to an enriching day of exploration in truly magnificent country.
The Nez Perce, or NeMePoo, have lived in this area for thousands of years. Even though it is clear that they traveled widely for trade and other reasons, they had never seen non-Indian people before 1805. When an advance party led by William Clark came staggering out of the Bitterroot Mountains on Friday, September 20th of that year – nearly starved, weary and desperately in need of assistance – it was the Nez Perce who provided food for them and the rest of the Corps in the form of camas (a root that was a staple of the Indians’ diet) and salmon. When the men of the Expedition then became ill, perhaps due to the richness of the food or some spoilage of the fish, the Nez Perce did not seize the very real opportunity to kill the strangers, take their 42 guns plus all the ammunition and other goods, and thereby become the most powerful Indian nation of the region. Indeed, the Nez Perce people became true friends of the Corps, highly regarded by them as evidenced in the journals.
Thirty-three years after the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through their homeland, a couple named Spalding came to live among the Nez Perce as missionaries. As a favor to a friend, Henry Spalding collected Nez Perce artifacts and sent them to the east coast where they remained essentially untouched for over 150 years. When the artifacts resurfaced, the Nez Perce were able to buy the “Spalding Collection” back as a result of strenuous fund-raising efforts. Today the Collection, as well as other artifacts including one of only four Jefferson Peace Medals on display in the world, is housed at one of the 38 sites that together comprise the Nez Perce National Historic Park.
After a day of either jetboating in Hells Canyon or touring Lewis and Clark campsites in the Clearwater River Valley, we all gathered to learn more about the NeMePoo people on a guided tour of the museum that contains the Collection. Enjoying the history and beauty of these precious cultural artifacts was a fitting end to an enriching day of exploration in truly magnificent country.
