Sacred Trails

Sacred Trails “The Land unites us with [our] across time, keeping our culture alive…… We live in the place our ancestors called home before the great pyramids of Egypt were built.” Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee First Encounter of Horse Nation Native Americans have always believed that animal creatures were part of the living community. When Native Americans first encountered the horse they called them Horse Nation and they found an ally, inspiration and a tool that would transform their world. By the 1800’s Natives had used the horse nation as survival and sustaining their culture. Native Americans honored the horse and invited the horse into their spiritual lives. The horse continued to have a close relationship with the Native Americans. Horse Dominates North America In the 1500’s Spanish Conquistadors used the horse as a powerful weapon to take over the new lands in North America. Some of the horse were captured or ran away and the Native American tamed, trained and blessed the horses into their everyday lives. The horses move across the entire North American continent and become a powerful tool against invaders. By the 1700’s many native tribes had their own horse nation. The horse nation strengthened the native tribes by becoming an integral part of their community and spiritual life. 1 Sacred Trails The Walla Walla Council of 1855 The Walla Walla Council was held on the banks of Mill Creek a tributary of the Walla Walla River. Governor Stevens the Governor of Washington and the Superintendent of Indian Affairs devoted much of his time to setting up councils between the tribes of Washington Territory. Hal-hal-tlos-sot or Lawyer was the head chief and negotiator. Hal-hal- tls-sort trusted the government and positioned his people toward peace and civilization. The tribes; Cayuses, Yakimas, Umatillas, and the Walla Wallas living in the Washington Territory were all present for the council. Governor Stevens party was in danger from a possible attack from the Cayuse Tribe who did not agree with actions taken earlier by Stevens. Chief Lawyer then moved his lodge to government camp for solidarity. The deliberations included discussions about the development of three reservations totaling three million acres. These reservations would then belong to the tribes where no white were allowed unless permitted by the councils. An agency which included schoolteachers, mechanics and farmers would take charge of the reservations. The final treaty was signed by fifty-six chiefs with their reservations of five thousand square miles, plus promised $60,000 for initial improvements and $200,000 in usual annuities. The treaty would benefit some thirty-six hundred people. Due to the ratification of the Senate the payments and annuities were not received until 1960. Miners, fur-trappers and settlers however felt they could work the lands that were part of the reservations. Many of these settlers were veterans of historic battle of the United States therefore they felt entitled to the amenities of the land. Tension from the Indians as well as the miners, fur-trapper and settlers quickly became hostile. Treaty of 1863 and 1868 2 Sacred Trails With so much tension among the people of the west especially the Washington Territory a military garrison was established in Lapwai. Many of the chiefs wanted a new council to address some of the violence and hostility between tribes and settlers. A new council met after many postponements and delays. In the council it was proposed that the original square footage of five thousand square feet for each reservation be reduced to six hundred and $75,000 for the changes. This treaty became known as the “thief treaty” as the Upper Nimi’ipuu felt opposed as it was not possible with the amount of people in the tribe. There were too many people and too much livestock to move. The treaty was signed and seemed justified by the missionaries as it kept with the interests of the church and government. Racial Tension Non treaty clans still lived on the land and tried to prosper with more pressures from the settlers. In many situations the settlers wanted the land and the Non Treaty Nimi’ipuu would not give up so quarrels would begin. Another meeting was held in Wallowa in August 1872. In this meeting it was recommended that the upper Wallowa Valley, the lake and the adjacent mountains be set aside for a hunting reserve for the whole Nimi’ipuu Tribe. White settlers would be compensated for improvements and moved at the government’s expense. This compromise was approved by the Indian Bureau of Affairs and sent to Washington, D.C. An executive order was signed by President Ulysses Grant on June 16, 1873. The new reservations was much smaller only 1,425 square miles and did not include the recommendations for the hunting reserve, in fact the land was small in the less productive part of the territory. All parties involved were not satisfied with the results. The settlers were 3 Sacred Trails given rights to occupy the bottom lands on the Wallowa River. And Young Chief Joseph requested many times to take the case to Washington, but was denied. Military troops were stationed at Wallowa area to keep the peace. The military troops also created a market for the settlers. Thirteen Years of Controversy The Upper Nimi’ipuu Chiefs signed the treaties which each time took more away from the tribes and gave more rights to the settlers. The Non Treaty Nimi’ipuu was now established under Young Chief Joseph and he unlike his ancestors would not sit back rather he was active, persistent and articulate with the government and felt confident to reject their orders. Folks, like A.L.Lindsley and Major Wood legally helped the Nimi’ipuu Cause by compiling reports and sending them to General Howard. Most of the reports gave legal and moral reasons why the Nimi’ipuu should not be bound to the Treaty of 1863. Agressive Settlers In 1876 in April two settlers; McNall and Findley, assumed that the Nimiipuu people had stolen their horses, so they approached the hunting camp and accused Wahlit’its of stealing their horses. Wahlit’its denied the charges but was shot by one of the Settlers. Later the settlers did find their horses. This acts of violence alerted the tribe to be vigilant. 4 Sacred Trails Young Chief Joseph mobilized his people and occupied a bluff where he waited for a resolution. Finally Washington responded by appointing a commission to visit the Nimi’ipuu. Commission of 1855 General Oliver O. Howard and Major Wood were certainly aware of the Nimi’ipu problems and both were in favor of the Nimi’puu claim to Wallowa. Major Wood reports were all documented and well known at the time. General Howard felt the rescinding of the presidential order of 1873 had been unfair and he tried to convince Congress that the Nimi’ipuu should have the land at valley. Of course Old Joseph’s original acceptance of the treaty gave the government more power to push ahead with Young Joseph and the reservation in Wallowa valley. Young Joseph was not in favor of one reservation and it was too small for all five bands of different tribes. The Commission had five recommendations as following; 1. Nimi’ipuu religion should only be exercised in Indian Territory. 2. Military occupation of Wallowa should move to vacant land. 3. If Nimi’ipuu were willing to settle peacefully within a reasonable time no force would be taken. 4. Any Indian depredations, disturbance or overt acts of hostility would warrant the use of force. 5. Other non-treaty Indians should be treated similarly treated by the various Indian agencies in the area. Year of the Decision On January 6, 1877 Agent Monteith received the necessary authority for the Indian Commissioner to implement the recommendations outlined in the commission. This meant 5 Sacred Trails the Nimi’ipuu would have to surrender a million acres of land and return to the Wallowa reservation by April 1, 1877. The chieftains once again were persistent and demanded more land to be reserved as the acreage was too small for the amount of people and livestock to thrive as a culture. On January 13, General Howard was ordered to occupy the Wallowa country. Ollokot, Joseph’s brother met with General Howard on April 21 to convince him that the Nimi’ipuu were peaceful and then he immediately requested another meeting in May in Lapwai with all the nontreaty chiefs. The final council took place on May 3 in Lapwai where the chiefs requested a repeat of the November hearings due to improper proceedings. Chief Joseph once again expressed his grievances that the reservations designated was too small. The final interview at the agency with all the chiefs met and the agree to the move to Wallowa Valley. Round-up The Nimi’ipuu packed up what belonging they could get on a travois and had to leave everything behind to travel to Lapwai Reservation. Many of the Nimi’ipuu animals escaped the round - up. No government exists within the tribes so tribal members were not forced to leave to Lapwai every tribal member had the option to stay or go with the tribe. The Snake River was flooding and difficult to travel through which caused several horses to flee. The Salmon River was navigable and allowed many tribes to pass. Early June all the clans and tribes met at an ancient gathering place called Tepahlewam (Split Rocks or Deep Cuts) on Camas Prairie, at the head of Rocky Canyon near Tolo Lake.

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