Nimiipuu (The People)
Since time immemorial, the Nimiipuu, also known as the Nez Perce, have had a close connection to the land in which they lived.   Today, this relationship continues.   The Tribe is a living culture in which the traditions and teachings from the environment, animals, plants, and oral histories are actively practiced and preserved.

According to oral traditions, the Nez Perce were created in North Central Idaho by Coyote.   The Nez Perce lived in what is now known as Idaho, Washington, and Oregon and their aboriginal territory spanned over 13 million acres of land.   They traveled across the northwest into Montana, Canada and other surrounding areas to hunt, fish, and trade with neighboring Tribes.   Over 50 percent of the Nez Perce diet consisted of salmon and other fish species.   The Nez Perce were also well known for their root food, qe'mes (camas), which became a prized trade item among other Tribes.   The landscape of the people was biologically diverse and provided the people with a rich lifestyle.   The habitats included desert, meadow, mountain, and water.

For tens of thousands of years the Nez Perce lived in their traditional land area.   With the introduction of the horse in the early 1700's, the mobility of the Nez Perce was increased.   The Nez Perce became well known for the selective breeding of their horses and developed horse culture.   One of these breeds of horses became the famous Appaloosa horse.   Today, Nez Perce tribal members still actively breed horses including the Appaloosa and the newly developed Nez Perce horse.

In the 1800's, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, a group of explorers from the east, entered Nez Perce Country during their now famous exploration of what is today known as the northwestern United States.   The Nez Perce provided assistance to the group, and helped them travel down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean.   Soon after the expedition left the west, trappers, traders, and mountain men moved into the area, followed by miners and settlers.   Because of the westward expansion of the United States and the number of people settling in Nez Perce territory, the United States government negotiated a treaty with the Nez Perce in 1855 so that the Nez Perce could retain 7,700,000 acres of their aboriginal homeland.   With the discovery of gold, this treaty was soon ignored and the treaty of 1863 was established.   Today the Nez Perce Reservation consists of 750,000 acres of land, but the Tribe and Tribal members retain ownership of only 12% of the reservation, approximately 85,000 acres.

The current enrollment of the Nez Perce Tribe is 3,322.   The Nez Perce Tribe is the third largest employer in the area of the reservation behind Potlatch (paper mill) and St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center.   The Nez Perce Tribe operates a number of tribal enterprises including a forestry program, fisheries program (with a tribal hatchery), wildlife program (whose efforts include reintroduction of the gray wolf to Idaho), water resource program, law enforcement, health service, HeadStart program, gaming program, a young horseman registry and a tribal store and gas station.

Introduction to the Nez Perce Lessons
These culturally sensitive lessons are rooted in a process of discovery rather than in the mastery of knowledge.   As educators, we recognize the importance of both, but have a unique understanding of the cultural relevance and real-world experiences that we would like to create for our students.   We believe in learning from Earth, not just learning about Earth.   In addition, our lessons are tightly knit with literature appreciation, the importance of oral traditions, and art.

When guiding students to an understanding of a culture of today or from a century or more ago, we must explore the culture of the people who identify with that culture today to avoid the possibility of students' making incorrect generalizations.   The learning activities in these lessons strive to allow students to make connections either from the past to present, or from a tribal experience to their own personal experiences.   Using creative activities that include art, reading, writing, mathematics and science helps to motivate students, incorporates other subject areas, and allows for the use of individual student interests.

The Importance of Oral Traditions, Stories, and Geographical Locations
Oral traditions and the use of storytelling are an important part of Native education.   They impart knowledge, history, morals and values, skills, and entertainment.   Some stories may be creation stories, while others tell how something came to be.   They are tied to the landscape of the Nez Perce.   For example, many geographical locations and geological sites are identified within these stories and today remain culturally significant areas.   Potlatch Creek, Celilo Falls, and the Ant and Yellowjacket rock formation are a few of these locations that are found in the lessons.

Nez Perce Language
Language is an intergral part of culture.   The lessons incorporate relevant words from the Nez Perce language.   An audio recording of the words, spoken by Nez Perce elders, can be accessed on the lesson web site.