The Nez Perce call themselves Niimíipuu, or “The People.” The Tribe’s ancestral homelands once spanned the sweeping landscapes of present-day Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Far from static, their lives followed a carefully timed seasonal cycle, ascending and descending the region’s elevations as they gathered roots and berries, fished and hunted.

Their seasonal journeys took them eastward across the Rockies to the Great Plains for the buffalo hunt, and westward to Celilo Falls — one of their most important salmon fishing sites in the Pacific Northwest. These expeditions extended into present-day Montana and Wyoming, where they hunted, fished and traded with neighboring Tribes.

Renowned for their horsemanship, the Nez Perce developed and bred the Appaloosa horse, whose strength and endurance gave them a vital advantage in navigating the vast distances of their territory.

Today, the Nez Perce Indian Reservation covers 750,000 acres, with tribal headquarters in Lapwai, Idaho. Despite centuries of upheaval and hardship, the Nez Perce retain treaty-reserved rights to hunt, fish, gather, and pasture livestock on their ancestral lands, reaching from Willamette Falls to the mountains of Montana.

Among the most visited cultural sites is the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, which traces the dramatic 1,170-mile journey during the Nez Perce War in 1877. From Wallowa Lake in Oregon to Bear Paw Battlefield in Montana, the Trail follows the courageous flight of Chief Joseph, who led nearly 750 Nez Perce men, women and children — along with twice as many horses — in an attempt to evade U.S. Cavalry forces and seek freedom. The journey lasted from June to October, through some of the most rugged terrain in the American West.

Despite a turbulent past, the Niimíipuu steward their lands and waters with deep reverence and expertise. Their commitment is especially evident in the work of the Nez Perce Tribal Fisheries Department, one of the largest and most successful in the country. In partnership with other Tribes and agencies, the Department co-manages key river systems, including the Columbia, Snake, Tucannon, Grande Ronde, Imnaha, Clearwater and Salmon Rivers —  and plays a leading role in the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC).

The Nez Perce have been instrumental in bringing fall chinook and coho salmon back from the brink of extinction. The Tribe boasts a significant hatchery program, operating two hatcheries and co-managing the Dworshak Fish Hatchery with the Department of Fish and Wildlife Service. The Nez Perce are also very active in implementing watershed restoration activities, more so than any single entity within this area.

The Tribe welcomes visitors to experience Nez Perce culture and hospitality at several tribally owned enterprises. The Clearwater River Casino and Lodge features an event center, restaurants and a hallway filled with traditional arts on loan from the Nez Perce National Historical Park. Outside the property is a cultural walk with a large statue of Chief Joseph, one of the most famous tribal leaders in American history. Other tribal offerings for visitors include the Red Wolf Golf Club Zims Hot Springs, It’se Ye-Ye Casino, Camas Express Convenience Store and Nez Perce Express.