This Virtual Exhibit Tour was made possible by funding from the Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Federal Cares Act. Funding has been provided to the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland from Oregon Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This HORN OF A BIGHORN SHEEP has been marked to be cut by a contemporary bow maker. Nez Perce bows—made with two horns and a central joint reinforced with sinew, salmon, or eel skin—were once the most highly prized of any in the Northwest. These natural materials handle more bend than wood, and when used together allow for compression and tension.

“These are built for hunting buffalo off of horseback—short, quick shots. Sinew will stretch and the release of the arrow snaps that sucker right out there. That’s why you put sinew on the back.” — Elmer Crow, Nez Perce

This serviceberry wood BOW is bound with sinew. The bone and flint tipped ARROWS are handcrafted out of mock orange wood with great horned owl and turkey feather fletching.

ELDERBERRY FLUTE handcrafted by David A. Duer of Lyons, Oregon. The decorative slide can be adjusted to influence the tonality of the instrument. Naturally hollow ELDERBERRY STEMS, like the one shown here, are still used today to make flutes with six finger holes. Percussion is also central to Nez Perce music—in the 19th century bone rasps were replaced with hand drums, and by 1890 big drums were commonly played by groups of up to eight people.

FORBIDDEN FREEDOM by naa tooh-kii-toopii, aka Wilbert "Wimpy" Beebe, a Umatilla bronze artist. This piece depicts TIWI•TEQIS’ (OLD CHIEF JOSEPH) famous son, HINMATÓ•WYALAHTQIT (YOUNG CHIEF JOSEPH).

YOUNG CHIEF JOSEPH was in reality a peace chief rather than a warrior. For years after negotiating the return of the wal’wá•ma to the Northwest from Oklahoma, hinmató•wyalahtqit continued to seek a home for his people in the Wallowa country. He died in Nespelem, WA, in 1904.

These BEADED MOCCASINS were left in tribute at the monument overlooking Wallowa Lake which marks the grave of tiwi•teqis, (Old Chief Joseph). A descendant brought them here for preservation from the elements.

From 1937 to 1942, members of the Umatilla Indian Civilian Conservation Corps worked to improve the Wallowa Lake monument site. Today the land is held in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Park Service administers the site under the direction of the Umatilla and Nez Perce tribes.

 Next: Sacred Gifts from the Land —>