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Artwork & Exhibits
2023 Featured Capitol History Gateway Program Virtual Exhibit
The Nez Perce in Oregon: Removal and Return
"The Nez Perce in Oregon: Removal and Return" puts the oft-told story of the Nez Perce War and Chief Joseph into national and Oregon context. The Nez Perce today are descendants of tribal peoples living in the intermountain west for millenia. Recent archeological findings at Coopers Ferry on the Salmon River put human habitations back to 16,000 years ago; there is a Nez perce name for the site. The Nez Perce, who befriended and helped Lewis and Clark on their journey, had lands taken by treaty and by homesteader encroachment--and finally by war. Nez Perce were subjected to boarding schools, allotment, and other assimilationist efforts. But the people are resilient, and the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland, a non-profit with tribal and local representatives, has a dance arbor and a Longhouse on 320 acres near the town of Wallowa; Tribal Fisheries is restoring salmon runs in Eastern Oregon; and the Nez Perce Tribe owns land in the Wallowa.
This exhibit, presented by the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, was awarded a Capitol History Gateway Exhibit Sponsorship in 2022, which is funded by the Oregon State Capitol Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Please explore the panel below and arrow on the right to advance the panels.
