NEZ PERCE

TRIBAL MIGRATION AND TERRITORY

• Pacific Northwest of the U.S.
• Covered about 17 million acres
• Migrated seasonally
• Almost always returned to the same locations

WAY OF LIFE

• Known as warriors
• Lewis and Clark recorded as friendly
• Became known horsemen
• Lived in different homes, including long houses and tipis
• Hunted large game and ate salmon, plants and roots

SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Woman in charge of home, men in charge of hunting and defending
• Only men could be chiefs
• Both genders took part in art, music, medicine and storytelling.

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

• Originally lead by elected chief
• Today ruled by tribal council

INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER TRIBES

• Allies of the Coer d'Alene, Yakima and Salish tribes
• Often fought with Shoshone and crow tribes.
• Often hunted buffalo with Salish tribes

RELIGION AND ENVIRONMENTS

• Seven drum
• Christianity or other
• Believed in weyekins

TECHNOLOGY

• Dugout canoes
• Travois
• Famous for quill work, painting and basketry

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Wikipedia.org
• Www.bigoran.org/nez_kids.htm
• Www.learner.org/interactives/historymaps/indians3.html
• Www.indians.org/articles/nez-perce-Indians.html