Nez Perce Country (cid:0) (cid:0) (cid:54)(cid:65)(cid:75)(cid:62)(cid:67)(cid:0)(cid:66)(cid:13)(cid:0)(cid:63)(cid:68)(cid:72)(cid:58)(cid:69)(cid:61)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:63)(cid:71)(cid:13) With an introduction by Jeremy FiveCrows University of Nebraska Press Lincoln and London ©(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:15)(cid:22)bytheBoardofRegentsofthe UniversityofNebraska Allrightsreserved ManufacturedintheUnitedStatesof America LibraryofCongressCataloging-in- PublicationData Josephy,AlvinM.,1915–2005. NezPercecountry/AlvinM.Josephy Jr.;withanintroductionbyJeremy FiveCrows. p.cm. Includesindex. isbn-13: 978-0-8032-7623-9 (pbk.:alk. paper) isbn-10: 0-8032-7623-0(pbk.:alk.paper) 1.NexPercéIndians—History. 2.Nez PercéIndians—Sociallifeandcustoms. 3.Northwest,Pacific—History. 4.Northwest,Pacific—Sociallife andcustoms. I.Title. e99.n5j5855 2007 979.5004'974124—dc22 2007021252 SetinAdobeGaramondbyKimEssman. DesignedbyAshleyJohnston. Contents ListofIllustrations vii IntroductionbyJeremyFiveCrows ix EditorialNote xviii WelcometoNezPerceCountry xix (cid:0)(cid:0) (cid:16). BeforetheWhiteMan (cid:16) (cid:17). OmensofChange (cid:17)(cid:16) (cid:18). TheFurTraders (cid:18)(cid:18) (cid:19). AgentsofChange (cid:19)(cid:15) (cid:20). TimeofCrises (cid:20)(cid:24) (cid:21). TheGatheringStorm (cid:23)(cid:18) (cid:22). WarComestotheNon-Treaties (cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:23) (cid:23). Aftermath (cid:16)(cid:18)(cid:21) (cid:24). Today (cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:21) Index (cid:16)(cid:21)(cid:18) List of Illustrations Figures NezPercefishingspearpointsandline (cid:16)(cid:17) OilportraitofRabbitSkinLeggings byGeorgeCatlin (cid:19)(cid:18) OilportraitofHornsWornOutby GeorgeCatlin (cid:19)(cid:18) PhotoportraitofChiefTimothy (cid:20)(cid:15) ClearwaterRivervillage (cid:20)(cid:17) Rev.HenrySpalding (cid:20)(cid:18) SketchportraitofChiefLawyer byGustavusSohon (cid:21)(cid:18) SketchofCouncilof(cid:16)(cid:23)(cid:20)(cid:20) byGustavusSohon (cid:21)(cid:23) SketchportraitofChiefLookingGlass byGustavusSohon (cid:22)(cid:18) PhotoportraitofChiefJoseph (cid:16)(cid:15)(cid:15) ChiefJosephandJohnGibbonsonthe ColvilleReservation,(cid:16)(cid:23)(cid:23)(cid:24) (cid:16)(cid:19)(cid:15) JamesStewart,ChiefJoseph,and AliceFletchernearKamiah,ca.(cid:16)(cid:23)(cid:24)(cid:15) (cid:16)(cid:19)(cid:22) ANezPercefamily (cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:16) Map MapofNezPerceWarof(cid:16)(cid:23)(cid:22)(cid:22) (cid:16)(cid:17)(cid:17) Introduction I Am Of This Land (cid:0) (cid:63)(cid:58)(cid:71)(cid:58)(cid:66)(cid:78)(cid:0)(cid:59)(cid:62)(cid:75)(cid:58)(cid:56)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:76)(cid:72) I am of this land. Growing up on the Nez Perce reservation, I often heard this simple phrase and believe that it captures the essence of who the Nez Perce are. The rivers and valleys, mountains and forests of Nez Perce country hold my heart and connect me with my past. Living on the land where my culture was born, was almost destroyed, and is now recovering makes my history take on a much more real sense—it presents a reality impossible to capture in any way other than actual experience. For example, photographs of the Camas Prai- rie never capture the awe I feel when standing in that world of green camas stalks, with blue blooms stretching as far as I can see. Amid the sea of camas flowers I can see the wind turning the plants into a sea of gentle waves, and I realize that the preservation of this place is inextricably tied to the preservation of my culture, for they are one and the same. For my tribe this land is both a source of strength and its greatest responsibility. I truly am of this land. The stories and legends of the Nez Perce, passed down from generation to generation, are the repository of our collected knowl- edge and wisdom. I grew up hearing stories about Coyote and other animals, learning from their mistakes and marveling at their deeds. What child wouldn’t be impressed to learn about the fight between Ant and Yellowjacket, or how Coyote turned them to stone as pun- ishment? I can still remember my amazement the first time I actu- ally saw the basalt arch mentioned in the story, realizing that those weren’t just words—I could see with my own eyes the place where the two warriors were locked in battle! The stories of my childhood not only explained the world around us but also taught us how to live.
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