Curated OER
My Important Place
The story of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians of Oregon is told here. Pupils are shown pictures of the ancestral lands of the Nez Perce, and they learn about how they were forced to leave it. Learners complete an essay which...
Curated OER
Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce
Eleventh graders explore the life of Chief Joseph and Nez Perce. In this US History lesson, 11th graders analyze paintings and photos detailing the flight of Nez Perce. Students create a narrative newspaper article based on their...
Curated OER
The Nez Perce and the Dawes Act
Eleventh graders explore westward expansion in the United States. In this US History lesson, 11th graders watch the epic struggle of the Nez Perce. Students evaluate how a variety of Americans viewed Nez Perce through a role play.
Curated OER
Journey of the Nez Perce
Students study the retreat of the Nez Perce Native Americans into Montana while tracing their journey on a map. They use the law of cosines to solve problems based on the navigational methods of the Nez Perce. They work with both the law...
Curated OER
US Emergence of Power in the Pacific Northwest: General Howard and the Nez Perce Tribe War
Students discuss the role of the military in acquiring territory in the Pacific Northwest. Using a map, they locate the areas in which the Nez Perce were prominent and the routes used by the military to chase them. They discuss whether...
Curated OER
Petroglyphs: Protecting the Past
Fourth graders investigate the three types of rocks and study about petroglyphs. They explore why petroglyphs were used by the Nez Perce People. Students investigate the properties of the three types of rocks and they discuss cultural...
Curated OER
An Encounter of Former Foes
Students examine a timeline on the internet showing the relationship between the American Government and the Nez Perce in the 19th Century. After looking at the timeline and included map, students answer questions.
Curated OER
The Appaloosa - Horse of the Nez Perce
Fourth graders investigate the use of Appaloosa horses by the Nez Perce Native Americans during the War of 1877. They examine the geography of the area and determine why the Appaloosa horse was suited to this use after looking at...
Curated OER
Journey of the Salmon
Third graders predict salmon migration routes and explore how dams affect the salmon migration. They explore the cultural significance of salmon to the Nez Perce people and design technology to aid salmon migration.
Curated OER
Suitcase, Parfleche and 'Isaptakay
Third graders explore farfeche and how the Nez Perce people use natural materials to derive colors for their artwork. They explore traditional paints and dyes used by the Nez Perce and create their own parfleche 'isaptakay.
PBS
Idaho Public Television: Lewis & Clark in Idaho
Site offers perspectives on the most difficult part of the Journey - the Bitterroot Mountains. Also gives perspectives from Native Americans - and an engineer tracks the trail! Transcripts of two PBS programs are provided.
Discovering Lewis & Clark
Discovering Lewis & Clark: Marias River Decision
This section of the larger website Discovering Lewis & Clark explores the Corps of Discovery's time at the Marias River.
PBS
Pbs: New Perspectives on the West
This in-depth resource presents a history of the American West from pre-Columbian times until World War I with profiles, documents, and images. It encourages visitors to link these into patterns of historical meaning for themselves....
PBS
Pbs the West: The Nez Perce and the Dawes Act
This companion article from the PBS series, "New Perspectives on the West," offers a lesson plan which approaches the Dawes Act from the perspective of the Nez Perce.
PBS
Pbs the West: Chief Joseph Speaks
This Archive of the West site provides selected statements and speeches of the great leader of the Nez Perce Indians. They are reprinted from Chester Anders Fee's "Chief Joseph: The Biography of a Great Indian" which was published in 1936.
Other
Colorado College: Tutt Library: Helen Hunt Jackson Papers
Site includes a biography, chronology, and collection of writings of and about Helen Hunt Jackson.
Curated OER
National Park Service: A Sharp Little Affair [Pdf]
Although somewhat difficult to read, this PDF file from the National Park Service describes the Battle of Big Hole and the history and archeology surrounding this battle site. A most extensive study.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Camping With the Sioux: Fieldwork Diary of Alice Fletcher
A fascinating site that presents the story of Alice Fletcher who traveled to Dakota Territory to live with Sioux women. Click on dates on the calendar for diary entries. Also includes historic photo gallery.
Other
Lumen Learning: Encroachment and Resistance
In the latter part of the 1800s, settlers began to ignore treaties when expanding westward. The government followed suit by declaring they would no longer negotiate new treaties, that they had the power to enforce laws on reservation...
Nebraska Studies
Nebraska Studies: The Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, also known as the General Allotment Act, was written by Henry Dawes in an attempt to assimilate Native Americans into American culture. Use this site to learn about what propelled Dawes to write this document and how his...
The History Place
The History Place: Chief Joseph Surrenders
This site provides a brief explanation of the surrender of Chief Joseph along with the original text of his famous surrender speech.
PBS
Pbs: Lewis and Clark: Wishram Indians
A look at a little-known tribe, the Wishram Indians, encountered by the Corps of Discovery on their return trip up the Columbia River. Read about the importance of trade networks to the Indians. From PBS.
PBS
Pbs the West: The Pursuit and Capture of Chief Joseph
Provides detailed information on the Nez Perce campaign and the capture of Chief Joseph in an eyewitness account by Charles Erskine Scott Wood, aide to General Howard.
PBS
New Perspectives on the West: Oliver Otis Howard
Use this site to learn about Oliver Otis Howard (1830-1909), the man who was devoted to seeing that freed slaves were given their own piece of land. Site by PBS.