CHIEF JOSEPH AND THE NEZ PERCE INDIANS

When I started this month’s article, I had battlefields in my mind, as several people enjoy visiting during the summer when they can walk the battlefields. I settled in with “Bears Paw Battlefield” near Chinook, Montana and then I got caught up in the circumstances leading up to this battle. This story starts in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, moving into Wyoming and ending in Montana, 40 miles from the Canadian border.

The Nez Perce were always peaceful and tried to get along with the white man. All they wanted was the lands given to them under Treaty, where they could raise their appaloosa horses and trade with the French, English and Americans for the supplies they needed. The Lewis and Clark party stayed with the Nez Perce for a short while and spoke of their hospitality and the quality of their horses.

http://www.nezperce.com/npedu11.html

Please check left side info

http://www.chinookmontana.com/battlefield.html#top

http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/chiefjoseph.htm

Photos

http://www.nezperce.com/npphoto1.html

http://www.indigenouspeople.net/joseph.htm

Historic Trail

http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2168/

Photo scenic hwy

http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2168/photos.html

Good map of trail

http://www2.gsu.edu/~eslmlm/chiefjoseph.html

Historic Park

http://www.nps.gov/nepe/sites.htm