Nez Perce Tribe

1. Nez Perce Tribe November 22, 2013

2. Home • Nez Perce lived in the Plateau region of North America • Oregon • Washington • Idaho • This area has mountains, forests, grasslands, and rivers • Tipis & Longhouses • Tipis were made of woven tule mats or buffalo skins • Longhouses were over 100 feet long made of poles and tule mats • Several families would live together • Village Life • Many families would join together to become a village along a stream or river

3. “The People” • They called themselves, Nimi’ipuu • The French called them Nez Perce (pieced nose) • They didn’t actually pierce their noses, but some men wore shells as decoration in their noses • Clothing: • This tribe used buckskin or deerskin to make their clothing • Men and boys wore long shirts and leggings while the women and girls wore long dresses • During the winter they used gloves and buffalo skin robes to keep warm

4. Food • The men hunted and fished • Deer, elk, bears, moose, mountain sheep, and goats • Buffalo and antelope • Rabbit, squirrel, badger, marmot, salmon • The women gathered and farmed • Roots: camas bulb, bitterroot • Pine nuts, seeds, berries

5. Life • Men: • Hunted • Trained the horses • Played sports games • Told stories • Women: • Cooked • Taught girls to cook, weave, and to make baskets • http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/nepe/index.html#