The Nez Perce Indians had to leave their land because of the Christian ministry. However, before they were forced off their land they had a happy life. They will be remembered by the land features of where they lived, how they met their basic needs, and their customs.
The Nez Perce lived in a wonderful place. They lived in the western region of the United States of America now in what is the state of Idaho. The Nez Perce Indians once lived on the borders of Oregon, Idaho and Washington. This land is in the highland and semiarid climate region . The Nez Perce lived mostly in the Rocky Mountains and in the Great Plains. The Rocky Mountains have ridgid tops and the Great Plains are flat and the have lots of tornados. They lived near the Snake River, Lake Pend Oreille, and Lake Coeur d’Alene. They used the Columbia River for trades and transportation. Overall the land of the Nez Perce is magnificent to see.
The Nez Perce met their basic needs much differently than we do today. They lived in rectangular matted covered longhouses and skin teepees.matted covered longhouses and skin teepees are made from the skins of bear, moose, elk, and wood logs.The Nez Perce got their food by hunting, fishing, and growing crops.They had silverware too. They used sheep horns as spoons that they mostly ate fish, meat, roots, and wild plants with. Their clothing was made out of fiber and skins. Women carried woven bags and clothing made from woven fiber. Men wore feathered hats and breechcloth, moccasins and leggings that were made from elk, deer, and buffalo skins. They had to work very hard to achieve their basic needs.
The customs of the Nez perce were quite unique. One of their beliefs is that marrow give helps them gain weight and they would use marrow bones for special recipes. They believed in personal devils. The Nez Perce Indians believed they could not speak until the animals come to earth. Most of them have their nose pierced. They do not get a name or a spirit until they were 6, 7 or 8. Men are the fierce animals but women are the lesser animals. They will not leave their land and the leader of the customs was the Chief and the white bird. Some custom are weird and some are not.
The Nez Perce Indians left their land by force. But before that it was a amazing life for the Nez Perce Indians. Where they lived, how they and they were able to attain their basic needs, Their customs is how we will be remember the Nez Perce Indians forever. The Nez Perce fought hard to survive.