Friday 5 October 2012

The Nez Perce Historical Park In Spalding, Idaho




The Nez Perce are Native American people who live in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. An anthropological theory says they descended from the Old Cordilleran Culture, which moved south from the Rocky Mountains and west in Nez Perce lands. The Nez Perce nation currently governs and inhabits a reservation in Idaho.

Nez Perce is French for 'Pierced Nose' - a name bestowed upon them by French fur traders. Nose-piercing has in fact never been a part of Nez Perce culture, but for some reason the name stuck but very few people wore them. The tribe refers to itself as the Nimíipuu, which means 'The People.'

3 comment(s):

Unknown said...

"Nez Perce" was their given name by the French, and it was a part of their culture:

"These men were called Frenchmen, and they called our people "Nez Perce," because we wore rings in our noses for ornaments. Although very few of our people wear them now, we are still called by the same name."
Chief Joseph
Speaking before congress, and others in the Lincoln Hall
January 14th, 1879
Washington DC

Gerard said...

Yes, Eric, you are right. Chief Joseph (whose real name was In-mut-too-yah-lat-lat, meaning Thunder traveling over the Mountains) did indeed say that in his speech to Congress 1879.

For 91 Days Travel Blog said...

We got this information from the Nez Perce website directly.