NEZ PERCE, pilr'sfe. The leading tribe of Shahaptian stock (q.v.). They call them selves Shaptin, whence the stock name, but they were known as Chopunni$It to some of the neigh boring tribes, and were called Ncz-pero:, 'Pierced Nose,' by the 1• reneh, in allusion to their lormer custom of wearing Wise pendants. They formerly claimed a large territory in eastern ashington and Oregon and central Idaho, bounded on the east by the main divide of the Bitter Root Mountains and including the lower Grande Ronde and Salmon rivers, with a large part of the Snake and all of the Clearwater River districts.
Lewis and Clark traversed their country in 1805. In 1832 they sent a delegation to Saint Louis to ask for Christian missionaries and teachers. In response to their request a Prot estant mission was established among them at Lapwai, Idaho, in 1837. Soon afterwards they entered into governmental relations, and they made their first treaty with the United States in 1855. By this they ceded the greater portion of their territory and were confirmed in the pos session of a reservation including Wallowa Val ley in Oregon. On the discovery of gold in the country, however, the miners rushed inn, and in consequence a new treaty was forced upon the Indians by which they agreed to surrender all but a reservation at Lapwai in Idaho. Joseph, who occupied Wallowa Valley with his band, refused to 1.4-cognize the treaty or remove to Lapwai. This refusal led to the Nez Puree War
in 1877, in which, under -Joseph's leadership, sev eral severe defeats were inflicted upon succes sive detachments of regular troops. -Joseph final ly almost accomplished a masterly retreat to ward Canada through Idaho and :Montana, which was frustrated only by the arrival of Colonel (General) Miles, when the Indians were within 5(1 miles of the British line. Joseph surrendered on assurance of being allowed to l'el11111 to his own coUlary, but the promise was not kept. Ile and his band were deported to the Indian Ter ritory. where in seven years they were reduced by disease from about 450 to 280. Their condi tion compelled attention. and in 1884 they were returned to the north, not however, to their old country,but to the Colville reservation in northern Washington, where they DOW reside. From an estimated total population of 2800 in 1863 the tribe has decreased to less than 1700, of whom about 1570 are on the (allotted) Lapwai agelley, in northwestern Idaho, the rest under Joseph be ing at Colville. ‘Vii sh. The general report of condi tions in either band is not encouraging. Consult Mooney, ''I host Danee Religion," in Ponricen/h. I nnuo/ Brport of I br If l'Pfl It of L't h nolo,/ y (Washington, 1896), See Plate of AMERICA N IN D1ANs, under INDIANS, A M ERICA N.