What the Lewis and Clark Expedition Began
The first written account about the Nez Perce comes from the journey that Lewis and Clark began in 1804. As they explored the western lands where they were sent by President Jefferson, they discovered many Indian tribes who already claimed this territory as home. Lewis and Clark studied the ways of the people and kept written accounts of their customs and locations. Later expeditions relied on those accounts to follow the trail that Lewis and Clark traveled first.
When Lewis and Clark met arrived in the northwest, they found Indian nations who called the area home, much as the first settlers on the Atlantic had several hundred years before. The Nez Perce and other tribes of the area had trails to and from hunting and fishing grounds, through the mountains and across rivers. The main trail, one which many future settlers, traders and explorers came, was the Lolo Trail. The Perce used this trail to travel from hunting grounds in Montana to their favorite fishing grounds in Southern Idaho and Oregon. Until the arrival of horses in this area, the hunting trips were much longer and harder, as we will discuss more in depth later. What is important to note here is that these people had a well established people with much land that they called their own. Lewis and Clark opened the door for later travelers and settlers to began to understand one of the more nomadic tribes of their region.
Horses were their livelihood, with breeding, trading and hunting being the main reasons they raised and owned them. They were known for their horsemanship and even the women rode like the men, with almost the same expert skill.
When Lewis and Clark met arrived in the northwest, they found Indian nations who called the area home, much as the first settlers on the Atlantic had several hundred years before. The Nez Perce and other tribes of the area had trails to and from hunting and fishing grounds, through the mountains and across rivers. The main trail, one which many future settlers, traders and explorers came, was the Lolo Trail. The Perce used this trail to travel from hunting grounds in Montana to their favorite fishing grounds in Southern Idaho and Oregon. Until the arrival of horses in this area, the hunting trips were much longer and harder, as we will discuss more in depth later. What is important to note here is that these people had a well established people with much land that they called their own. Lewis and Clark opened the door for later travelers and settlers to began to understand one of the more nomadic tribes of their region.
Horses were their livelihood, with breeding, trading and hunting being the main reasons they raised and owned them. They were known for their horsemanship and even the women rode like the men, with almost the same expert skill.
