Nez Perce National Historic Trail

The Nez Perce Indians in their native homeland was located in the area of southwestern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and north central Idaho.
They depended on the land for their very survival and used the river water for fishing, water to drink, and cleaning. The bushes, berries, roots, and game were for eating.
Farming and land ownership was foreign to the Nez Perce Indians. They believed the earth was not to be disturbed by a hoe or a plow. Their land was not a commodity to be bought or sold.

Chief Yellow Wolf said, "we were always here. Nature placed us in this land of ours".

Indian settler disputes intensified in the Nez Perce homeland. The government failed to enforce an 1855 treaty prohibiting encroachment on Indian Reservations.

Seeking the rich resources of Idaho, the explorers, fur trappers, miners, and missionaries all swarmed over the Nez Perce land. As a result in 1863, the seven million-acre Indian Reservation was reduced to 10% of its original size.

The first battle between Nez Perce Indians and the settlers from increasing pressure was at White Bird Canyon, in Idaho. It was in June of the year 1877. Before fleeing eastward over Lolo Trail to Montana the Nez Perce Indians would fight several more battles. These battles were with the Army units and settlers who had volunteered.

The Nez Perce Indians believed they would be safe in Montana. They intended to leave Idaho, find peace and someday return home. The flight of the Nez Perce from their homeland in 1877 was one of the most sorrowful events in western history.
With the U.S. Army pursuing them, 750 Nez Perce Indian men, women, and children traveled over 1200 miles, going up into the mountains, traveling with all of their horses and belongings.
The trip lasted from June till October of 1877.

Forced to abandon hopes for a peaceful move to Montana, the Nez Perce Indian Chiefs decided to band in Montana.
Chief Joseph was forced to surrender. In a speech that has become famous he concluded, "Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever".

The captive Nez Perce were imprisoned on Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. While on Indian Territory more Nez Perce Indians died than were killed in all of the fighting. Some Nez Perce was eventually allowed to return to their homeland.
Chief Joseph and others were forced to settle on the Colville Reservation in Washington State.

• The Dominguez-Escalante Expeditions Journal:

Through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in 1776

• I Walked to Zion:
- Young Pioneers on the Mormon Trail

• The Gathering of Zion:
- The Story of the Mormon Trail

• National Geographic's Guide to:
- Lewis and Clark Trail

• Hiking Historic Trails
- Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails

• Scenic Driving - Travel guides
- Scenic Driving in Utah

• Historical reading
- The Old Spanish Trail

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