Nimiipuu

The Nimiipuu, also known as the Nez Perce in English, are a Native American people of the Plateau region in the Pacific Northwest. The name Nimiipuu means “the people” or “real people,” reflecting their own designation for themselves. They traditionally inhabited the Clearwater River basin and surrounding lands in what is now Idaho, with seasonal use of lands along the Snake River and into parts of Oregon and Washington.

Historically, the Nimiipuu were known for horse breeding, skilled forestry and hunting, and riverine subsistence from salmon and other fish. They developed a relatively peaceful relationship with early explorers and fur traders, and they aided the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805–1806. In the mid-19th century, the United States engaged in treaties that established a reservation and later reduced their lands, leading to conflict in 1877 when Nez Perce bands resisted forced relocation. Under Chief Joseph, they conducted a historic retreat toward Canada before surrendering near Bear Paw Mountain in Montana. The events are memorialized in American history as the Nez Perce War; the tribe’s remaining homeland and rights were subsequently negotiated within the U.S. legal framework.

Language and culture remain central to Nimiipuu identity. The Nimiipuu language (Nez Perce) is part of the Sahaptian subgroup of Plateau languages, with ongoing revitalization efforts. Traditional crafts, fishing practices, and seasonal round activities continue today, supported by tribal government and community programs.

Today, the Nez Perce Tribe is a federally recognized government with a reservation centered around Lapwai, Idaho. The tribe continues to manage natural resources, cultural preservation, and economic development for enrolled members, while maintaining a strong connection to Nez Perce history and contemporary life.