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  • ceremonial wahiloskó’s (quirt)
  • Riding whips; Ceremonial objects; Handicraft; Leather goods; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • A wahiloskó’s (quirt) or horse whip is an important aspect of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) peoples' connection to horses. Though Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) men and women used wahiloskó’s (quirts) in daily life to control horses, they also served purposes in...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • sám’x (shirt)
  • Clothing and dress; Shirts; Cotton textiles; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This sám’x (shirt) is representative of a transitional period regarding clothing in Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) culture during the late 1800s. Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) clothing, including sám’x (shirts), were traditionally made by Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) from...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • hímiin maqsmáqs’ (Yellow Wolf's) Winchester Carbine Model 66.44 Rim Fire tim’úuni (rifle)
  • Winchester rifle; Weapons; Campaigns & battles; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This tim’úuni (rifle) belonged to Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) warrior hímiin maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf) and he carried it with him throughout the majority of the Nez Perce War of 1877. The tim’úuni (rifle), a Winchester Carbine Model 66.44 Rim Fire, was...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Horseshoe
  • Horseshoes; Equipment and supplies; Campaigns & battles; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • Evidence suggests this iron horseshoe was picked up from the site of the Nez Perce War of 1877 battle,' ickum'kiléelixpe (The Battle of the Big Hole) near ickum'kiléelixpe (Big Hole, Montana). ickum'kiléelixpe (The Battle of the Big Hole) occurred...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • L.V. McWhorter's ceremonial pipe
  • Pipe smoking; Tobacco pipes; Ceremonial objects; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This ceremonial pipe was made by the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) and given to L. V. McWhorter. The pipe is made from catlinite, which is a type of argillite (sedimentary rock) that is reddish in color. Catlinite is commonly used by many Native American...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Cube-shaped pipe
  • Pipe smoking; Tobacco pipes; Campaigns & battles; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This cube-shaped pipe is made from stone and records from L.V. McWhorter indicate it was given to Frank Parker, a U.S. Army associate scout and war correspondent during the Nez Perce War of 1877, as he was departing with an important dispatch...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Splinter bone awl
  • Awls; Tools; Sewing; Stitches (sewing); Leatherwork; Handicraft; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • An awl is a tool regularly used for stitching, creating holes for sewing, or sewing thick materials, including leather and canvas. While many awls have a bone base with a sharpened point, such as a steel needle, attached to the end, these two awls...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Metis xe’xépil (half-leggings)
  • Clothing & dress; Bead embroidery; Leather garments; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • The term "Metis half-leggings" originated in the mid-1800s when indigenous employees of fur trading companies wore xe’xépil (leggings) below the knee to protect expensive cloth trousers from wear. The Metis are an indigenous Canadian people,...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • húusus 'ewyíin' (Wounded Head's) drinking cup
  • Drinking vessels; Handicraft; Campaigns & battles; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This drinking cup was owned and constructed by Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) warrior húusus 'ewyíin (Wounded Head). Though drinking cups served everyday, practical uses, this particular drinking cup maintains important significance in Nimíipuu (Nez Perce)...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Comb or berry picker/stripper
  • Combs; Berries--Harvesting; Tools; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This item is either a personal hair comb or berry picker/stripper. Many Native American peoples, including Nimíipuu (Nez Perce), used berry strippers to more easily and quickly pick/strip berries from plants or vines. Though the specific person...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • piyopyóot’alikt' (Chief Peo Peo Tholekt's) kiwkiwíl’ec (drum)
  • Drum; Ceremonial objects; Musical instruments; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This kiwkiwíl’ec (drum) was owned by Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) warrior and chief piyopyóot’alikt (Peo Peo Tholekt). Throughout Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) history, kiwkiwíl’ec (drums) have played an important role during the páaxam (war dance) (frequently...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • piyopyóot’alikt' (Chief Peo Peo Tholekt's) Wéeptes xotxó’as (Eagle bone whistle)
  • Wind instruments; Campaigns & battles; Handicraft; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This Wéeptes xotxó’as (Eagle bone whistle) was constructed and owned by Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) chief piyopyóot’alikt (Peo Peo Tholekt). A significant characteristic of these Wéeptes xotxó’as (Eagle bone whistles) in Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) culture is...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Basanite arrowhead
  • Arrowheads; Arrows; Bow and arrow; Bow and arrow making; Projectile points; Subsistence hunting; Weapons; Campaigns & battles; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This arrowhead was one of five found at the site of ’elelímyeté’qenin’ (Young Looking Glass') camp near the himeq'isníme (Clearwater River) in present-day léewikees (Kooskia, Idaho). ’elelímyeté’qenin’ (Young Looking Glass) was a Nimíipuu (Nez...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Penahwenonmi's (Helping Another's) cúuyesıtkeˀs (belt pouch)
  • Cornhusk bags; Pouches (Containers); Cornhusk craft; Handicraft; Belts (clothing); Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • Penahwenonmi (Helping Another) was a Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) woman who survived the Nez Perce War of 1877 battle ickum'kiléelixpe (The Battle of the Big Hole). Penahwenonmi's (Helping Another's) husband húusus 'ewyíin (Wounded Head) was a Nimíipuu...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • piyopyóot’alikt' (Chief Peo Peo Tholekt's) drinking cup
  • Drinking vessels; Handicraft; Campaigns & battles; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This drinking cup was owned by and constructed by Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) chief piyopyóot’alikt (Peo Peo Tholekt). These drinking cups were used regularly by Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) warriors as they traveled. Since the drinking cup was attached to a...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Argillite arrowhead
  • Arrowheads; Arrows; Bow and arrow; Bow and arrow making; Projectile points; Subsistence hunting; Weapons; Campaigns & battles; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This arrowhead was one of five found at the site of ’elelímyeté’qenin’ (Young Looking Glass') camp near the himeq'isníme (Clearwater River) in present-day léewikees (Kooskia, Idaho). ’elelímyeté’qenin’ (Young Looking Glass) was a Nimíipuu (Nez...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Comb bag
  • Combs; Pouches (Containers); Bead embroidery; Embroidery; Handicraft; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This bag is considered a comb bag that Native American peoples, including the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce), would use to carry hair combs and other personal items. This particular bag is made from pink cloth that is most likely commercial, trade cloth. ...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Stone sinkers
  • Fishing; Rocks; Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • These six small rocks are called "stone sinkers." Native American peoples who engaged in fishing, including the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce), would often used stone sinkers to weigh down and hold fishing nets in place. The stone sinkers are identifiable...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • hinmatóowyalahtq̓it' (Chief Joseph's) ceremonial pipe bag
  • Ceremonial objects; Handicraft; Tobacco pipes; Pouches (Containers); Nimíipuu; Nez Perce
  • This pipe bag belonged to Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) chief hinmatóowyalahtq̓it (Joseph). The unique aspect of this particular pipe bag is that it was used to carry the tobacco pipe's stem as opposed to most traditional pipe bags that were used to carry...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection
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  • Looking Across the Battlefield at c'aynim 'alikinwaaspa (Bear Paw Mountain)
  • Battlefields--Montana--Bear Paw Battlefield; Cavalry--United States Army--Washington (state)--Bear Paw; Land--Mountains; Land--Rock formations; Landscape photographs; Military retreats; Mountains (Montana); Passes--Mountain passes; Peace; Peace...
  • Landscape view across the battlefield at c'aynim 'alikinwaaspa (Bear Paw Mountain) where the Nez Perce dug shelter pits for the noncombatants. With freezing weather and limited food supplies, suffering was very great among the Nez Perce. Though...
  • McWhorter, L.V. Collection

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