Camp Wal'áwa  June 17-21, 2025 

Camp Wal’áwa is a five day cultural educational experience for Native youth that is hosted by The Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland. The purpose is to strengthen nimiipuu language and traditions in the ancestral homeland of Wallowa Band Nez Perce descendants.  

Guided by language teachers, cultural knowledge keepers, and traditional artists, students will strengthen their sense of identity, build meaningful relationships, and learn about language, place, art and more.

This is a cost-free program for students, with 30 spots available for 2025

Who is Eligible to Apply?

• Native youth aged 9-14 (exiting 3rd through 8th grade)

• Native youth with ancestral ties to the Wallowas

• Native youth enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), Confederated   Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR), or Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) or who have a demonstrated affiliation or dependency

We prioritize equity in our selection process, ensuring fair and inclusive representation from all regions and age groups eligible within the program's guidelines.

Students will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Timely submission of completed application

• Identification as Native youth, meeting the provided eligibility requirements

• Availability to meet for camp departures in  Pendleton, Lapwai, or Nespelem 

• Willingness to participate in multiple days of nimipuutímt (Nez Perce language), art projects, & physical activities

• Commitment to learning, being respectful and having fun

• Demonstrated interest in language, traditional arts and cultural practices

What to Expect

Students will have the opportunity to participate in multiple language groups, create traditional arts projects such as hand drums and wáapas bags.  We will explore different areas of Wal’áwa including Wallowa Lake and have nightly activity including lacrosse and a powwow night full of dancing and singing in the arbor.  Each day is rooted in connection to place, guided by language teachers and cultural knowledge keepers while camping out in teepees on the Wallowa Homeland located on Whiskey Creek Road. A detailed agenda will be shared with campers once the selection process is complete. 

Cultural Context Statement for Camp Wal’áwa

Camp Wal’áwa is offered by the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland (NPWH) as part of our commitment to fostering experiences for youth that spark an enduring love for the wal’áwa homeland. Through this camp, we aim to help carry forward the nimípuu (Nez Perce) language and cultural practices. We recognize that nimiipuu culture is diverse and held in many ways across families, bands, and tribal communities. What is shared at Camp wal’áwa is guided by the knowledge holders who lead this work—each bringing their own teachings, stories, and perspectives. It is rooted in connection to wal’áwa—the ancestral homeland of the nimípuu people—and reflects both shared values and the individual approaches of our educators. This camp is not meant to replace or redefine the teachings of any family or tribe, but to offer young people a chance to learn the language, stories, and practices of their people in a supportive, intergenerational setting. In a time when much knowledge risks being lost, NPWH is committed to the continuation of cultural learning.