Park Letters Project

Classrooms near and far, within the Pacific Northwest, the United States, and across the globe!

Welcome to Nez Perce National Historical Park’s “Park Letters Project.” In an effort to connect teachers, students, and classrooms to the park virtually, Park Rangers will write weekly letters exploring the various places and stories of the Nez Perce People that make up this unique park.

Each letter will be posted on this site under a different heading as it is finished. The newer letters will be added at the top of the page, so if you want to follow along chronologically, begin at the bottom.

If you have questions, or want to reach out to Park Rangers, please e-mail us.

 

Weippe Prairie

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Letter 9: Weippe Prairie

Hello from Nez Perce National Historical Park! Today your class will look at the Weippe Prairie, which is along Idaho Highway 11 and near the town of Weippe, ID.

The prairie has always been a traditional gathering place for the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce People). In the summer months, the Nimiipuu would make their way out of the river valleys and onto the surrounding prairies to harvest roots and berries, and to hunt. Nestled against the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountains, Weippe Prairie played host to several Nez Perce Bands. It was here on September 20, 1805 that the Nimiipuu met the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery for the first time.

The Corps of Discovery was unprepared for the hard trek over the Bitterroot Mountains, so Captain Clark and a small group of hunters went ahead in search of food. When they entered the Weippe Prairie, they encountered three Nimiipuu boys hiding in the grass. Clark gave them small presents and sent them back to talk with the rest of the people. The Nimiipuu questioned the plans of these strangers, but eventually agreed to accept them into their land. After Lewis and Clark reunited on September 22, 1805, they spoke with the Nimiipuu, traded gifts, passed the pipe, and collected information about the land surrounding them.

Would any of you want to be part of an expedition to meeting new people and see unknown lands?

Thanks for joining us as we explore the various sites that make-up Nez Perce National Historical Park. We’re excited to share another site with you next week. Stay tuned!

Dear Students,

 

Buffallo Eddy

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Letter 8: Buffalo Eddy

Dear Students

Hello again from the park rangers at Nez Perce National Historical Park! Today your class will look at another one of the 38 sites that make up this park. We will focus on Buffalo Eddy, which is a rock art site along the Snake River near the town of Asotin, WA.

Has anyone heard of a petroglyph or know what a petroglyph is? Petroglyphs are made by removing the outer weathered surface of rock to reveal the unweathered rock underneath. This is done by pecking, rubbing, or scratching the rock surface with a harder rock. At the Buffalo Eddy site, you will find images made this way.
Long before Europeans or Americans first set foot in this country, the ancestors of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce People) created densely grouped clusters of petroglyphs on either side of an eddy formed by a series of sharp bends in the Snake River. These images provide links to the past, reminding us of the timeless connection humans have to this land. The unique petroglyphs of this area are evidence of the longevity of the Nimiipuu in the region and contain hundreds of distinct images. These images could possibly date from as early as 4,500 years ago. That’s a long time ago!
These ancient petroglyphs are sacred to the Nimiipuu and are protected by the National Park Service. Is there something you own that is special to you and that you want to protect? Please help us protect and respect Buffalo Eddy by taking only photographs and leaving only footprints so that future visitors will be able to enjoy them too.
Thanks for joining us as we explore the various sites that make-up Nez Perce National Historical Park. We’re excited to share another site with you next week. Until then take care!

 

Letter Seven: Canoe Camp

Dear Students,

Hello again from the park rangers at Nez Perce National Historical Park! Today your class will look at one of the 38 sites that make up this park. We will focus on Canoe Camp, which is near the town of Orofino, ID.

This is one of many village sites where the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce People) lived. It is where the two forks of the Clearwater river come together. The lives of Nimiipuu people evolved around rivers and streams. Nimiipuu families traveled the rivers in dugout canoes. The rivers and creeks were like roads for the Nimiipuu, and the canoes could be compared to our modern cars. Has anyone heard of a dugout canoe? It’s a boat made from a tree. What kind of tree would you use to build a canoe?

In 1805 to 1806, explorers by the name of Lewis and Clark traveled through this area. This site is where the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery worked with the Nimiipuu to carve the canoes that took them to the Pacific Ocean. The Corps was unable to find enough food while crossing the mountains, so by the time they got here, they were starving. At their first meal with the Nimiipuu, they ate so much of the rich salmon and camas root that they were sick for days. Even in their weakened state, they still managed to carve five canoes in twelve days. That’s a lot of work!

As the Corps left for their journey to the Pacific, they cached their saddles and gear and left their horses here in the care of the Nimiipuu until their return in the spring. It was a long hard journey, but the journals left behind by Lewis and Clark provided valuable information about plants, animals, landscapes, and peoples of the west.

Thanks for joining us as we explore the various sites that make-up Nez Perce National Historical Park. We’re excited to share another site with you next week. Stay tuned!

 

Letter Six: Old Chief Josephs Gravesight

Dear Students,

Hello from Nez Perce National Historical Park! Today your class will look at the Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, near Wallowa Lake and outside the town of Joseph, OR.

The Nimiipuu (Nez Perce People) homeland is vast and covers lands that now span across the three states of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Historically, the Nimiipuu lived in various groups called bands across the homeland. One of these bands was known as the Wallowa Band, and lived in the Wallowa Valley near the mountains in Oregon. A man named Tıwi·teq̉ıs, later known as Old Chief Joseph, was born between 1785 and 1790 and grew to be a leader of the Wallowa Band.

In 1855, Old Chief Joseph signed the Treaty of 1855, but refused to put his mark to the Treaty of 1863. He did not want to give up or leave the land that provided for his people and where his ancestors were buried. He died in 1871, but not before compelling his son, Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it (Young Chief Joseph) to hold fast and defend his homeland and people. When Tıwi·teq̉ıs died, he was buried further down the valley. Overtime, his grave was looted and disturbed.

Due to the disturbance of his grave, community leaders lobbied for Tıwi·teq̉ıs to be reburied. In 1926, 2,500 people lined up to see the remains of Tıwi·teq̉ıs placed at a new gravesite at the base of Wallowa Lake, overlooking the lands he once called home. Have any of you been to Wallowa Lake to see Tıwi·teq̉ıs gravesite?

Thanks for joining us as we explore the various sites that make-up Nez Perce National Historical Park. We’re excited to share another site with you next week. Stay tuned!

 

Ant and Yellowjacket Site

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Letter Five: Ant and Yellowjacket

Dear Students,

Hello from the park rangers at Nez Perce National Historical Park! Today your class will focus on the site of Ant and the Yellowjacket, which is one mile south of the main park visitor center.

The culture of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce People) has many stories. These stories teach people about the landforms that surround them everyday and help them learn their language, history, and culture. Ant and Yellowjacket is one such place.

Long ago, before there were people, the ants and the yellowjackets were friendly and shared resources, but had occasional arguments. One day, the leader of the yellowjackets was sitting on a rock eating a salmon when the leader of the ants walked by. The ant became jealous and said that he wanted the rock and that the yellowjacket should have asked for permission before sitting there. They then started fighting very loudly, which attracted the attention of Iceye'ye (coyote). He asked them to stop fighting but they ignored him and continued fighting even more loudly. Iceye'ye then turned them to stone right where they stood.

This story continues to be told by the Nimiipuu to this day, both in English and their native language, nimipuutímt. To hear the story told by Nimiipuu, click here. What is a story that you’ve been told that teaches you about your culture?

Join us next week to continue learning more about our park sites!

 

Historic Gristmill and Sawmill Site Sign

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Letter Four: The Spalding Mission Site

Dear Students,

Hello again from the Park Rangers at Nez Perce National Historical Park! Today your class will look at one of the 38 sites that make up this park. We will focus on the Spalding Mission site, which is a short walk or drive down the hill from the main visitor center at Lapwai, Idaho.

This site has a long history in the story of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce People) and the state of Idaho. This place, called iyeewéwi in Nez Perce language, has been used for many things over the years including: a fishing village, mission site, town-site, state park and now a National Park.

The Nez Perce village here, iyeewéwi, is the first known use of the site. It was nestled between the Clearwater River and Lapwai Creek. Nez Perce families lived here at different times throughout the year to fish in the river and creek. Nimiipuu fishermen used nets and spears to fish for Coho and Chinook salmon as well as other fish in these waterways. Who of you like to fish? Have you ever gone fishing?

In 1836, newcomers arrived in this area: missionaries (people who teach others about their religion). Henry and Eliza Spalding were Christian missionaries who came to live with the Nez Perce. They built a mission including a house, a church and a school building 184 years ago. As this traditional fishing village was turned into a mission, the Spalding's built a sawmill, flour mill, and brought the first printing press to Idaho. The mill was to help in the making of wheat into flour, for things like bread. The sawmill was used to take trees and turn them into lumber to build houses. Who of you has a home made of wood? (Fun fact: Nez Perce Tipis, the traditional style of home for Nimiipuu families, can be made with tall grass reeds, hides, or fabric.).

With the help of founders, like the Spalding's, Idaho became the 43rd state in 1890. Wow, that’s 130 years ago! The Nez Perce Tribe, the National Park Service, and the State of Idaho made this place a National Park for people to learn from and enjoy. You and your family can come learn and explore all the wonderful things that this place has represented for 1,500 years.

We’re excited to share another one of our sites with you next week. Until then!

 

Heart of the Monster park site

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Letter Three: Heart of the Monster

Dear Students,

Hello, and welcome back for the next letter in our series about Nez Perce National Historical Park. I hope you are excited and ready to learn. Our park has some unique places, fun to explore and learn about.

Today I am going to talk about the Heart of the Monster site. This is a very old and important site to the Nez Perce people. According to the nimí·pu· (Nez Perce) creation story, Iceye’ye (Coyote) killed a large monster along the Clearwater River near present day Kamiah, Idaho, thus creating different tribes in the region, including the nimí·pu·. A rock formation in the area is said to represent the heart of the monster described in the Nez Perce legend. It is sacred to the Nez Perce people.

At the site, along with the Heart of the Monster there are two sound stations where you can hear the whole legend told by a tribal elder. There are also trails along the Clearwater river, picnic area and plenty of wildlife like: ducks, birds and sometimes deer.

The Heart of the Monster is located on U.S.Hwy.12 East 2 miles upstream from the bridge that crosses the Clearwater River in east Kamiah, Idaho.

We’re looking forward to exploring and learning more with you next week!

 

A painted Nez Perce tipi in front of park visitor center

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Letter Two: Nez Perce National Historical Park

Dear Students,

Hello again from the Park Rangers at Nez Perce National Historical Park! Now that we have learned what a National Park is (in our last letter), we are so excited to share more about this special park with you again this week. Today we will look at an overview of what this park is. As we get into future weeks, we will explore all the different parts of this park deeper, but for today, let’s look at this park.

Nez Perce National Historical Park is focused on the history and culture of the Nez Perce people. The Nez Perce are a Native American tribe who have lived in Idaho, parts of Oregon, and parts Washington for thousands of years. At this park we talk about those thousands of years of history and culture that Nez Perce people have in this place.

Sometimes, with a culture that is so old, like this culture is, we can forget that Nez perce people are continuing that history and culture every day; Nez Perce people are still here, and there is still so much we can learn from the Nez Perce. We sometimes say that this park is about one people and one culture, but it is for all people, of all cultures to learn from.

The park itself is not just one place, but it is thirty-eight! Each week’s letter will focus on one of those thirty-eight sites, and dive deeper into the importance of that site for the Nez Perce people and culture. Such an old culture and so many years in the same area makes this a very interesting park. There is so much that modern-day Nez Perce people can learn from this park, but more importantly, there is so much that all Americans can learn from the history and culture of the Nez Perce.

We’re looking forward to exploring and learning more with you next week!

 

NPS flat hat with arrowhead patch

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Letter One: What is a National Park?

Dear Students,

Hello! I am a Park Ranger for the National Park Service at a park in Idaho called Nez Perce National Historical Park. During these times of distance and limited time out and about, my fellow Rangers and I decided to start writing letters to your class so we could continue exploring culture, nature, and history together.

Let’s begin our exploration by starting with what a National Park is. National Parks are special places in the United States where something important has happened (for example, Gettysburg National Military Park, or Fort Vancouver National Historic Site), or areas with natural phenomenon and beauty (like, Yellowstone National Park, or Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve), or National Parks are associated with some of the nation’s most influential people (such as Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site). There are over 400 National Park Service sites across the country containing the highest mountains on the continent, actively erupting volcanoes, giant trees, and remembering some of our country’s most important people and events. It is the goal of the National Parks to preserve and protect these special places so everyone can go visit them and learn from them, both now and in the future. Have any of you visited any National Parks? If so, which ones?

Park Rangers like me and my co-workers (who you’ll be hearing from in future letters) have the awesome job of teaching people about why these places are so important. It’s a lot of fun! What we’re planning on doing with these weekly letters to your class is explore one unique and interesting National Park site: Nez Perce National Historical Park! Like I mentioned earlier, this is the park where my fellow Rangers and I work, so we’re very excited to share more about it with you each week.

We’re looking forward to exploring and learning more with you next week!