The Nez Perce before Persecution

The Nez Perce tribe was a very peaceful and respectful tribe. Families that did not frequently travel lived in longhouses, which were large and housed several families. They were constructed with ridge and side poles, tied together. They were then “roofed” by cattail mats or canvas. When traveling, they used the recognizable teepee, which was easily movable.

 When it came to clothing, these people dressed modestly and respectively. The women wore knee high moccasins with long dresses. It was considered offensive and immodest for women to show any leg skin what so ever; and when they rode horses, they wore modesty blankets which covered their upper thighs. In addition to long dresses and knee high moccasins, the women also wore tall hats called Leetz-cow. Their moccasins, dresses, and leetz-cows usually had floral or geometric patterns-which the tribe soon became famous for. The men, on the other hand, usually typically wore a shirt breech-cloth  and moccasins. Their shirts usually were highly decorated with porcupine quills, fringe with beads or metal, and sometimes paint. The men also wore moccasins, but they were much shorter than the women’s knee high moccasins.

The Nez Perce were also quite known for their decorative bags and paraphernalia.  They made bags out of both leather and “twine” from grasses and other plants. The Nez Perce are also famous for their woven Corn Husk bags. These bags were woven with pieces of grass and other plants; and dyed to make several catchy patterns. When made from leather, bags were sewed beads with sinew (buffalo or deer muscle) and made patterns. They had two styles of sewing-normal, stringing one bead at a time, and lazy bead stitching, taking multiple beads and sewing once.

These patterns were also used on moccasins, dresses, leetz-cows, head dresses.

These people were very friendly and welcoming. Whenever guests arrived, they held a sort of parade.  They put their best foot forward; sending the Chief and his family first, followed by the “wealthier” and more respected people behind, and moving down the line to the poorer and less credible people. When getting ready for these parades, the Chief was mounted on the best horse in the herd, with his best clothing and paraphernalia. Families outfitted themselves with their best clothes, necklaces, and accessories, and did the same with their horses-dressing their horses in the best, prettiest martingales, saddlebags capes, and other accessories (see Appaloosa).