IN REMEMBRANCE of the sacred places along this trail, memorialize those who died as a result of the harassing, deadly 1,200 mile pursuit of the U.S. Army, but also recognize those who survived, their descendants, and the future generations who fight to recover from colonization even as it continues today.

Nez-Perce-Survivors.jpg

Descendants of Him-him-High-high (Whitewolf), a child who survived exile in Kansas and Oklahoma and went on to father Julia Whitewolf, pictured here with her own daughter Cecilia Stevens at the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon

Survivors of the wal’wá·ma

Hinmató·wyalahtq'it (Chief Joseph)
Watus-chits-ka-neen (Big Joe)
Mr. & Mrs. John Minthorn
John Jefferson Green
Phillip Weaskus
Mathew Whitfield
David Scott
Thomas Types
John Miller
John Allen
Goos tim-na (Old Andrew)
La-pe-ya loot Williams
Dick Johnson
E-la-at-wa-tus
Jesse James Williams
Amos Wilkenson
John Moses
Silas Samuel
James Yelmas (White Bird)
David McFarland
James Blackeagle
Charles Stephens (Red Wheel)
Joh W. Martin
Charles Wolf (Williams)
Josiah Red Wolf
Arthur Simon
Philip Evans
Joe Allen
William Redstar
Thomas Watters
Owhi
Old Little Chief
John Cook
Robert Johnson
Tees-kusha-kaugh-kaugh
Elijah Red Elk
Ye-kik-ilp-ilp
Aas-ka-was
He-mees-nim-Hoosus (Wolf Head)
Jackson Sundown
Ole Johnson 		Edward Kash Kash
Joe Albert
Ralph Armstrong
John Walker
Philip Andrews
Obit (Thomas) Miles
Peter Gould
David Williams
George Peo Peo Tho-likt
John Oatman
Yellow Wolf
Charley Cow-ta-likge
Jesse Paul
Otis Halfmoon
Robert & Teresa Minthorn
Charles Ameare
Gilbert Conner
James Moses
Jonas Watters
Hoos-hoos-pa-auyeen
He-yum-piskish (Moyish)
Aya-to-tan-mi
Wet-y atmus-lick-lecnin
Jane Yellow Wolf
Billy Yellow Wolf
Iskit-poo-zim-mooh-sim-mooh (Johnson)
Isha-waw-no (Morton)
John Hayes
Jim Hayes
Its-coom-coom-aelk (Calf)
Kgha-weet-kgha-weet (Curlew)
Tum-shars-le-wit
Pa-hit-pa-laikt
Paka-tum-ke-kait
Hin-mat-ilp
Tommi-ka-clat
George Comedown
Tip-ya-la-na-ela-sa-nin
Robinson Minthorn
Wild Bill

As prepared by Chief Joseph Band Remnants Committee in 1928. Editors note: “The list is incomplete as many women were mentioned but no names were provided.”

Women Warriors

In 1877, women performed military actions such as collecting and secreting weapons, advising about the safety of the camp, and herding the 3,000 horses. Ten women were killed at Big Hole, including Telnayas, who died in battle after shooting the soldier who had just murdered her husband, Wáalaytic. Female descendants are honored each year during the Tamkaliks Celebration. This partial list of women engaged in the flight of 1877 was compiled by Celeste Whitewolf in 2014.

Ah Hits Pa Loo Ja My
Al La Lim We Nun My
Ale We Tal A Te Ket (Mary)
Al Le We Ya We Nan Mai (Winter Walking)
Al Lee We Ya Tal Te Pat (Hattie Lizzie)
At We Ya We Non Mai (Mollie Hayes)
Celia Mullitude
Etemiere (f) (Arrowhead)
Hal Pa Win My
Halpawinmi (Dawn)
Harriet Stuart
Hattie Carl Jackson
He-Yume-te-yat-kikt
He Yoom Ta Nan My
He Yo Wa Pat Kekt (Eliza Moses)
Heyoon Telekinmi
He Yoom Tee Lee Kin My
He Yum La San Mai (Noisy Bear)
Iah Toe Ton My
Il Talkt
In Tee Tah
Ip Man Yah Ta Ma Lil Pith
Ipnatsubah lew lus son mi
Ip Na Som Wee San Mai (Laura Minthorn)
Ipnasa Payutsami
Ip Na Tsa Pa Yu Tsan
Ip Na Tsa Pa Loo Lus Tson
It Tsil Wah
Kap Kap on mi
Kool Luts Tah (Mary Wilson)
Le Ya Me We Non Mai (White Rock or Summer Walking) Martha Joseph
Me Tat Wap Tae (Susan)
Nik Tsee Why
Niktseewhy
Nots No (Julia)
O Ly Ya (Mollie)
Otsi Pee Teen
Ow Yeen
Owyeen
Oh Yah Mah I 		Oh Yah Mah II
Pa Ka Lee Ka Sat (Five Times Over)
Patsikonmi
Pe Lah Wah Tson My
Pe Loots Poo
Pellutsoo
Pe Nao Wee Nun My
Penan weh non mi
Pe We Ya Ta Lee Ka Sat (Alice)
Py Na Win My
Sarah
Tal Hope
Tah-Ton-mi
Ta Mai Ke Yon Mai (Coming Together)
Ta Ma Ya To Wa Son Mai (Annie Schutt)
Ta Mus Ses Lee Wit (Rose Bush)
Tsis Koop (Adelia Emeline)
Ti Saik Pee
Tissaikpee
Toe Na Wih Nikth
To Ma All Wa Win My
Toma Alwawin-my
Tom Yone My
Tommi Yohomi
To Sa Im (Emma Ruth)
Tso Yim Mah
Tul Te Yokt (Lydia Johnson)
Tu Mo Kult
Tumokult
Tuk not
Tuck Te We Ta La Sha (Rosie Martha)
Wap Tess Hih Hih
We Ta Ton My
Wetatonmi
Weyadooldipal
We Ya Tup Tipp Pat
We Yo Yikt
Wetsetse
Whep Whep On My
Whepwheponmi
Yah Yawkh
Yi Yikt Wa Sum Wah
Yiyik Wasumwah

Red Heart P.O.W.’s

On July 19th, 1877, 33 members of the Red Heart band traveling home from Buffalo country were captured and imprisoned at Fort Vancouver. (List of P.O.W.’s as prepared by Chief Joseph Band Remnants Committee in 1928)

Old Chief Red Heart
Tsitscope
Jim Hines
Ayoklaisie
Pile of Clouds
He-ma-kits-put-way
Jim Powers
Halfmoon
Nene-tsu-kus-ten (Jesse James)
Pe-toh-we-ta loot
Pa-cas-la-wal-yact
Tse-lahe 		Wal-we-yas
Hamolits Hamolits
George Raymond
Ei-we-non-mi
Te-me-nah-ilp-pilp Jr.
Peto-lach-yotl
Alex Hayes
Jno Rueben
Kool-kook-tah-me
Weta-we-non-mi
Kai-ye-witch
Mrs. Charles Wilson

Editors note: “The list is incomplete as many women were mentioned but no names were provided.”

elelimyet’eqenin’ (Young Chief Looking Glass)

Pictured here before the war, Looking Glass later led the fleeing Nez Perce for months in 1877. He was the last casualty at Bear Paw. His band, the alpáweyma, only joined the others in flight when their village on the Nez Perce Reservation was unexpectedly attacked by US forces. Yellowstone River, MT, ca. 1871. — Photo by W.H. Jackson.

Tipi Memorial at Big Hole

“When I walk the battlefield it’s sacred ground. . . . A lot of relatives are buried there, but the memories of them are still living on. We are here today because of them. Their love for us lives in my heart.” — ˀıpelıkítemucet (Frank Andrews)

Tonkawa Burial Ground, 1879 - 1885

While imprisoned at what was then called Fort Oklahoma, many Nez Perce people died of disease and exposure. Those ancestors left behind in the cemetery are respectfully cared for today by Tonkawa tribal members, who were moved onto the reservation that the exiles vacated in 1885. — Photo by Jim Zimmerman, Tonkawa, OK, 2017.

Joseph’s Winter Camp

The Joseph Band of Nez Perce often lived along the banks of Nespelem Creek near the Colville Agency’s offices. Joseph did not live in the cabin provided to him, choosing his tipi instead. Nespelem, WA, ca. 1901. — Photo by Dr. E.H. Latham.

Very Early Camp at ‘Indian Ridge’

Joseph, OR. — Photo published by H.R. Findley, courtesy Mrs. Frank Rowe 

ˀalok’at (Little Frog)

ˀalok’at and his older brother, hinmató·wyalahtqit (Young Joseph), met with General Howard at Fort Walla Walla in April, 1877, when this picture was taken. ˀalok’at attempted to convince the general of their people's right to remain at Wallowa. "This is where we were born and raised," he said. "It is our native country. It is impossible for us to leave.” He was killed at Bear Paw. — Photo by Chas W. Phillips.

Reburial of tıwi•teqıs

The gravesite overlooking Wallowa Lake is that of tıwi•teqıs (Old Chief Joseph), not his famous son. Following decades of desecration of the original burial site, reinternment of tıwi•teqıs’ remains was prompted by a group of non-Indians called the “Joseph Commercial Club” in 1926. Thousands attended the reburial ceremony, including 1877 War Nez Perce veterans Yellow Wolf, Otis Halfmoon, and the Black Eagle family. Photo 1926.

Return to Wallowa

In 1899, and again in 1900, hinmató•wyalahtqit (Young Joseph) traveled to seek a home in the Wallowa country. He is pictured here (back right) with his Nez Perce friend peopeo t´olikt (center front), Colville Indian Agent James McLaughlin (left front), local businessman A.C. Smith (back left) and an unknown man (front right). Wrote Joseph of the visit, “I would be happy with very little … My father, mother and brother are buried at Wallowa, and when I die I want to be buried there …”  Enterprise, OR, June 1900. — Photo by Frank Reavis.

Yellow Bull Honors the Grave of hinmató•wyalahtqit (Young Joseph)

Joseph died in 1904 at his tipi fire in Nespelem. Similarly to his father, Joseph’s grave was moved in 1905 at the insistance of non-Indians, in this case by historians Edward Curtis and Edmund Meany. Later, efforts were made to reinter him once again, this time at the Wallowa Lake cemetery. However, out of respect for his spirit’s right to rest, the Joseph Band has chosen to leave his grave undisturbed. Nespelem, WA, June 1905. — Photo by Dr. E.H. Latham.

Contact Information:
Office phone: 541.886.3101
Office email: info@wallowanezperce.org
Mailing address: P.O. Box 15, Wallowa, OR 97885

The Homeland:
70956 Whiskey Creek Rd., Wallowa, OR 97885
Open to the public dawn to dusk, seven days a week (except during special events)

The Visitor Center:
209 E Second St., Wallowa, OR 97885
Open May 6-September 29, 2024
Hours of Operation:
10:00am-2:00pm, Monday-Thursday, or Fridays by appointment. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Call or email the office to make an appointment.