The Nimi'ipuu

The Nez Perce people, call thereselves Nimi'ipuu, which means the "real people" or "we the people." 

A tribal elder (Cecil Carter) mentioned  a name (Nimi'ipuu) before they had horses, the name meant we walked out of the woods or walked out of the mountains, Cuupn'itpel'uu.  He said it was an old word, before they used Nimi'ipuu.

Southern neighboring tribes (Shoshone, Bannock) referred to the Nimi'ipuu as "people under the tule"  because  Nimi'ipuu's main dwelling was the tule mat-covered, double lean-to  long house.  The principal dwelling switched from tule mat-covered long house to a conical structure (tipi) by the 1800's.  Tule is a long thin reed that when wet slightly increases in size to make a tight seal on the tules (tules are tied together to form the walls).  In the summer time the tules allow the air to flow and circulate.  The southern neighbors also referred to Nimi'ipuu as "Khouse eaters" because the Nimi'ipuu not only hunted for food but also gathered roots and berries.  One of the roots gathered was a root call khouse.  Khouse is used for food and medicine.

The name "Nez Perce" was given to through an interpreter with the 1805 Lewis and Clark expedition.  The French Canadians interpreted the meaning as "Pierced Nose."  However this cultural practice was not common to the Nimi'ipuu.

"The jurisdiction of the Nez Perce Tribe shall extend to all lands within the original confines of the Nez Perce reservation boundaries as established by treaty; and extra-territorial jurisdiction for the purposes of protecting the rights of the Nez Perce Tribe as guaranteed by treaties with the United States of American; and also to such other lands as may be hereafter acquired by or for the Nez Perce Indians of Idaho." (taken from 1999 Revised Constitution and by laws of the Nez Perce Tribe)

Before the White man came to settle the northwest the Nimi'ipuu lived in peaceful groups traveling seasonally with the deep canyons cut by the Snake, Clearwater and Salmon rivers.

The Nimi'ipuu traveled across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.  The Nimi'ipuu aboriginal territory was approximately 17 million acres or approximately 70 thousand square kilometers or 27 thousand square miles; including the Clearwater River Basin, and the South and Middle forks of the Salmon River Basin.

Today the Nimi'ipuu live all over the world, but the Nez Perce Reservation is located in North Central Idaho.

Communites and towns within the Nez Perce Reservation:  Myrtle, Lenore, Ahsahka, Orofino, Spalding, Lapwai, Gifford, Sweetwater, Culdesac, Greer, Reubens, Winchester, Craigmont, Nezperce, Kamiah, Waha, Ferdinand, Greencreek, Kooskia, Stites, Peck, Cottonwood Creek, Jacques Spur, Slickpoo Mission, Mohler, Clear Creek, Westlake.