"From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more, forever."
~Chief Joseph, Nez Perce Chief
These words ended one of the last Indian-white battles in America, a five-day skirmish that saw the escape of some 100 plus Nez Perce, or Nimiipuu--The People--as they refer to themselves, the killing of over 30 and capture and surrender of over 400.
This often-forgotten battlefield lies in northern Montana, some 40 miles from the Canadian border, the safe-haven country the Indians sought but most never made.
These pages were created as part of a project by Great Falls High School (Great Falls, MT) sophomores of the class of 2016. The students visited the battlefield, interviewed elders Wilfred "Scotty" Scott and his wife Bessie, as well as took photos and videos of the site.
~Chief Joseph, Nez Perce Chief
These words ended one of the last Indian-white battles in America, a five-day skirmish that saw the escape of some 100 plus Nez Perce, or Nimiipuu--The People--as they refer to themselves, the killing of over 30 and capture and surrender of over 400.
This often-forgotten battlefield lies in northern Montana, some 40 miles from the Canadian border, the safe-haven country the Indians sought but most never made.
These pages were created as part of a project by Great Falls High School (Great Falls, MT) sophomores of the class of 2016. The students visited the battlefield, interviewed elders Wilfred "Scotty" Scott and his wife Bessie, as well as took photos and videos of the site.
This was the Last Indian War in history. The tribe was on their way to Canada, to safety. They were 40 miles away but they decided to rest and this caused them the end of their journey and nearly the end of their tribe.
Here is a slideshow of the battlefield showing the different seasons and the commemoration ceremony, held each October. |
On their journey the non-treaty Nez Perce experienced many battles and confrontations with army soldiers like The Big Hole or Canyon Creek battles (Price, B. 2004). The Big Hole in particular was quite devastating to the Indians but the Bear Paw Battle saw the end for the Nez Perce as they were separated as a people from then on: some in Canada, some in Kansas and some in Idaho and Washington.
Tepees at the Bear Paw were very small and not as nice and tall as the one shown. Supplies were low and they had left their sticks behind. The Nez Perce did that they had to do.