Camus Prairie Festival

The Camus Bulb is a plant very similar to an onion that flourishes in Idaho and Washington. This plant produces a very pretty blue flower, and was a major food source for the Nez Perce and other Plateau tribes. Every year, when it came time to harvest these bulbs, several bans came together and celebrated. During this celebration, men and younger teenage boys raced their horses in various events. They include camus prairie stump, camus prairie stake race, and the camus prairie keyhole race. These events later became known as Barrels, Poles, and Keyhole race-present day gymkhana and rodeo events. When they weren’t racing, men and teenage boys would go on hunting trips for wild game. Boys would also learn important skills such as horsemanship, hunting, and other manly activities. The women would collect camas bulbs and socialize. At the beginning and at the end of the festival, a parade was held-similar to the parade held when guests arrived. Clans dressed up in their best clothes and dressed their trademark spotted horses in their best accessories