by Rich Wandschneider | May 20, 2026 | 1855 treaty, 1863 treaty, A.B. Findley, Enterprise Oregon, H.R. Findley, Imnaha, Joseph, Joseph Band, Joseph Oregon, Nex Perce history, Nez Perce, Nez Perce treaty, Nez Perce War, Sarah Findley, Wallowa, Wallowa Country, Wallowa County, Wallowa History Center
The Wallowa History Center is an amazing place that is becoming an important institution in the county’s capture and celebration of local history and culture. It sits in the old Forest Service compound at the west edge of Wallowa, as you make your way through town...
by Rich Wandschneider | Apr 12, 2026 | Colville Reservation, Colville tribes, Indian religion, Indian Relocation, Indian removal, Indian survival, Indian Territory, Josephy Library, Nespelem, Nex Perce history, Nez Perce War, Treaty of 1855, walwa’ma
When we arrived at the Head Start building that is now used by the walwa ma Nez Perce for Longhouse services, an elder I have known for over thirty years came to say hello and remind me again that the distance from Joseph to Nespelem is the same as that from Nespelem...
by Rich Wandschneider | Sep 26, 2025 | Alvin Josephy, Indian reservations, Indian survival, Indian treaties, Indian wars, Indians and salmon, Nez Perce Homeland, Nez Perce treaty, Nez Perce Tribe, Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland, Nez Perce War, Nezpercians, Old Joseph, Oregon, Oregon history, Oregon Trail, Oregon tribes
On Monday, September 29 at the State Capitol in Salem, the Josephy Center’s “Nez Perce in Oregon, Removal and Return” exhibit will open for a month-long run with a 4:00 p.m. reception. It’s been a long and wonderful journey! About four years ago, a call went out from...
by Rich Wandschneider | Sep 13, 2025 | Gaza, Indian removal, Israel, Netanyahu, Nez Perce, Nez Perce National Park, Nez Perce War
In 1877, General O.O. Howard gave the Nez Perce 30 days to leave the Wallowa and get themselves to the much-reduced reservation at Lapwai in Idaho. Other “non-treaty” bands on the other side of the Snake River were given the same orders. There were killings of...
by Rich Wandschneider | Jul 4, 2025 | 4th of July, Albert Andrews, Code of Indian Offenses, Colville Reservation, Indian assimilation, Indian boarding schools, Indian Offenses, Nespelem, Nex Perce history, Nez Perce, Nez Perce Homeland, Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland, Nez Perce War, Nezpercians
Years ago, Albert Red Star Andrews of the Joseph Band of Nez Perce on the Colville Reseravtion in north central Washington, told me about a unique Fourth of July event on his reservation. It was called Pasapalloynin, meaning “to make them rejoice, to make them happy!”...
by Rich Wandschneider | Apr 26, 2025 | Chief Joseph, Colville Reservation, Colville tribes, First Foods, Indian religion, Nex Perce history, Nez Perce, Nez Perce Homeland, Nez Perce treaty, Nez Perce Tribe, Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland, Nez Perce War
Last weekend four of us from Wallowa County made the long highway drive to Nespelem, Washington for the annual Nez Perce root feast. After a service of drumming, singing and testimony, we sat for a huge feast of “first foods.” Wild foods from water and salmon through...
