Learn about the Nez Perce National Historic Trail and planned commemorative projects.
Nez Perce National Historic Trail
American Indigenous Tourism Association Partnership
American Indigenous Tourism Association and the USDA Forest Service (USFS) have partnered to expand tribal tourism along the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail (NPNHT). This initiative supports economic development, cultural preservation and public engagement by amplifying tribal perspectives.
American Indigenous Tourism Association will collaborate with tribes to create itineraries, content and marketing resources that highlight Nez Perce history, culture, and Trail sites. Key projects include a pop-up interpretive exhibit, public art installations, travel itineraries and listing tribal attractions and accommodations on American Indigenous Tourism Association’s destination website, DestinationNativeAmerica.com.
Aligned with the NATIVE Act, this project contributes to the NPNHT’s sesquicentennial observance (1877-2027), ensuring that tribal voices remain central to the Trail’s narrative for future generations.
Nez Perce Sesquicentennial Photo Contest
Celebrating the 2026 Photo Contest Winners
The American Indigenous Tourism Association is proud to recognize the winners of the 2026 Nez Perce Sesquicentennial Photo Contest, honoring the history, landscapes, and living cultural connections of the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail.
Held in anticipation of the 150th anniversary of the 1877 Flight of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce), the contest invited amateur and professional photographers to share their perspectives on the places, people, and traditions connected to the Trail.
Congratulations to this year's winners, whose photographs highlight the cultural significance and natural beauty of the region.
Grand Prize Winner
Jennifer Rapoza (Cherokee Nation)
“Riding In Remembrance”
First Place — People and Culture
Photo location: White Bird Canyon, Idaho
Photographer's Statement
Photographed just before an Open Saddle Ceremony at White Bird, Idaho, as the riders were coming in. Part of the annual Chief Joseph Trail Ride organized by the Appaloosa Horse Club, this image captures riders moving together through a landscape deeply connected to Nez Perce history. The horses, traditional regalia, and rising dust created a powerful scene of remembrance. For me, the moment reflected the enduring connection between people, horses, culture, history, and the land.
About the Photographer
Jennifer Rapoza (Cherokee Nation) is an award-winning photographer from Sonora, California, with more than 16 years of experience capturing people, culture, and the landscapes of the American West. Her work has earned national recognition, appeared in Cowboys & Indians magazine, and been featured in a national park museum. Through her photography, Rapoza seeks to preserve meaningful moments, cultural traditions, and the stories that connect people to their heritage.
People and Culture Category Winners
The People and Culture category recognizes photographs highlighting community, cultural traditions, intergenerational relationships, and connections to the Nez Perce National Historic Trail.
First place was awarded to grand prize winner Jennifer Rapoza for “Riding In Remembrance,” featured above.
Second Place — Jennifer Rapoza (Cherokee Nation)
“Between Generations”
Photo location: Nez Perce Indian Reservation, Winchester, Idaho
Photographer's Statement
Photographed on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation in Idaho, this image captures a young boy standing between his parents, surrounded by the beauty and detail of their traditional regalia and beadwork. His quiet glance toward the camera caught my attention in an otherwise unguarded family moment. For me, the photograph represents the connection between generations—family, culture, tradition, and identity being carried forward from parents to child and continuing into the future.
Third Place — ímát’onmy (Sayq'is) Greene (Nez Perce)
“miyoxat`oowit (Authority of a chief/leader)”
Photo location: Nez Perce National Historical Park
Photographer's Statement
The elders and this specific leader holds a powerful connection between our people and generations before us. Donald “Toosh” Powaukee is a representation of knowledge and strength. Teachings have been taught and passed down through generations.
About the Photographer
ímát’onmy (woman from up river), also known as Sayq’is LOVE Greene, is a proud Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) woman in her first year of photography with Héetewit Lens. Meaning "love" in nimiipuutímt, Héetewit reflects her purpose as a photographer: capturing the beauty of her people, culture, and community, and preserving the moments that make life meaningful.
Landscapes Category Winners
The Landscapes category recognizes photographs capturing the mountains, rivers, valleys, and historic landscapes connected to the Nez Perce National Historic Trail.
First Place — Pox Pox Young (Yakama Nation)
“Homelands”
Photo location: Wallowa Lake
Photographer's Statement
This image was taken at the ancestral homelands of the Wallowa Band (Wallowa Lake) in early spring. The beauty this place holds goes far beyond what people can see today.
Second Place — Floyd Tillery
“Pilot Peak”
Photo location: Intersection of Chief Joseph Highway and U.S. Highway 212, Wyoming
Photographer's Statement
This image was taken at the intersection of Chief Joseph Hwy and Hwy 212 which is N/W of Cody, WY and North of Cooke City, Montana. Chief Joseph and his tribe may very well have seen this very picturesque place. Of course, Chief Joseph Highway was named to commemorate his historical trek across the Absaroka and Beartooth mountains.
Third Place — Matthew Doran
“The Impossible Route”
Photo location: Clarks Fork Yellowstone River, Morrison Jeep Trail, Wyoming
Photographer's Statement
Amazing view looking west on Nez Perce historic trail in Wyoming.
Thank You to Our Participants
Thank you to all the photographers who participated in the 2026 Nez Perce Sesquicentennial Photo Contest. Your submissions contribute to the recognition and commemoration of the landscapes, history, and cultural connections associated with the Nez Perce National Historic Trail.
Supported by the Oregon Historic Trails Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation.
Nez Perce Sesquicentennial Poster Contest Judges
Meet the five judges selected to review entries for the Nez Perce Sesquicentennial Poster Contest.
Sandra Broncheu-McFarland
Sandra Broncheu-McFarland, an enrolled Nez Perce tribal member, completed a career of more than 30 years with the USDA Forest Service, administering the 4,161-mile Nez Perce National Historic Trail network. Her roles included archaeologist, interpretive specialist, and tribal liaison, coordinating across tribal, federal, and state entities. Before joining federal service, she worked for the Nez Perce Tribe as cultural resources director and archaeologist. She holds a master’s degree in anthropology with a minor in wildland recreation and tourism.
Roberta “Bobbie” Conner
Roberta “Bobbie” Conner is the director of Tamástslikt Cultural Institute for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which opened in 1998. Tamástslikt is the only tribally owned and operated museum along the Oregon National Historic Trail, one of a handful on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, and affiliated with the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. She is Cayuse-Umatilla-Nez Perce and is enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. She serves on the Ecotrust and Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland boards. She previously chaired the Board of Trustees for the National Museum of the American Indian while serving on the American Alliance of Museums board.
Lee Gavin
Lee Gavin is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and serves as a photographer and visual storyteller for the Confederated Umatilla Journal and the CTUIR Communications team. An award-winning photographer and videographer recognized by the Indigenous Journalism Association, Gavin's work has been featured on the set of FX's Reservation Dogs and in regional art exhibitions, including Phot-Choch at the Anita Building in Astoria, Oregon, and the Indigenous Northwest Biennial at the A.N. Bush Gallery in Salem, Oregon.
Angela Iukes
Angela Iukes is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Her bands are Nez Perce, Palus, Wenatchee, and Moses-Columbia, and she is a descendant of the Yakama Nation. She attended Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana, earning an associate and bachelor’s degree in Tribal Historic Preservation. After graduating, she completed summer internships with the Colville Tribe’s History/Archaeology program and became a full-time employee in September 2015. She conducted fieldwork on the Columbia River before joining the Colville Tribal Museum & Gift Shop team in 2022. She currently serves as Archaeologist 1.
Crystal White
Crystal White is an enrolled Nez Perce tribal member. She holds an undergraduate degree in Native American and Latin American history from the University of Idaho and a master’s degree in Latin American and Indigenous history from Washington State University. She serves as executive director of the Appaloosa Museum in Moscow, Idaho, and as program director for the Trust for the Nez Perce Trail.
Nez Perce National Historic Trail (NPNHT) History
The Nez Perce National Historic Trail, a 1,170-mile route, traces the 1877 flight of the Nez Perce people as they fled U.S. forces. Designated in 1986, the Trail commemorates their resilience. Beginning at Wallowa Lake, Oregon, it crosses into Idaho, following the Clearwater and Lochsa River before reaching Montana at Lolo Pass. The route continues through the Bitterroot Valley, over Gibbons Pass, and into the Big Hole Valley, the site of a tragic battle. It then crosses back into Idaho, traverses the Birch Creek and Lemhi Valleys, re-enters Montana, passing through Yellowstone National Park and concludes at Bear Paw Battlefield, Montana.
The Trail's route is defined by the Nez Perce's journey with approximately 750-800 people, 2,000 horses, and hundreds of dogs, traveling for over 110 days. Five distinct Nez Perce Bands, sometimes traveling together, sometimes separately, were pursued by the U.S. Army, which also took varied routes. This complex movement makes it impossible to define a single, definitive path.
The Nez Perce, or Niimíipuu, have inhabited the region for over 11,000 years, moving seasonally. Their society was organized into autonomous bands. The acquisition of horses around 1700-1730 significantly impacted their culture, enhancing mobility and trade. Early contact with European-Americans, including the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was followed by the fur trade and missionary activity. Increasing settler encroachment led to conflict and broken treaties, culminating in the 1877 War.
The war began with engagement between Nez Perce warriors, the U.S. military and area settlers. The ensuing flight saw the Nez Perce evade the army across vast distances. After the Battle of the Big Hole, they continued their arduous journey toward Canada. Intercepted near the border, Chief Joseph surrendered, marking the end of the flight. The survivors were not returned to their homeland but were instead imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Chief Joseph became a powerful advocate for his people, eventually securing their return to the Northwest. Chief Joseph later died and is buried on the Colville Reservation.
Today, the Nez Perce Trail traverses diverse landscapes, crossing traditional homelands of numerous tribes. While some areas have changed, the landscape retains its beauty. The Trail is divided into eight segments for administrative purposes, corresponding to auto tour routes from from the vicinity of Wallow Lake, Oregon, to Bears Paw Mountain, Montana. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the Trail's purpose is to preserve and interpret the history of the Nez Perce flight, foster collaboration and provide educational and recreational opportunities.
Source: USDA Forest Service 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Resources
Agents of Discovery: App Engages Youth Along Historic Trails in Bitterroot
The Agents of Discovery mobile app brings history, nature, and culture to life through immersive, educational augmented reality experiences along the historic trails of the Bitterroot Valley. Guided by Discovery Agent Itse-Ye-Ye—“Coyote” in Nez Perce—youth and families can embark on site-specific “missions” at places like Lake Como, River Park, St. Mary’s Mission, and Travelers’ Rest State Park. Dressed in traditional regalia, with a fan, shawl, corn husk bag, and shell earrings, Itse-Ye-Ye serves as a cultural guide, sharing stories and prompts that encourage movement, curiosity, and deeper understanding of the land and its heritage. This free app is designed for students in fourth grade and above, but offers engaging, gamified learning for all ages—helping to preserve cultural knowledge, strengthen connections to place, and inspire the next generation of explorers.
The Nez Perce (Nee-me-poo) National Historic Trail
Congress passed the National Trails System Act in 1968, establishing a framework for a nationwide system of scenic, recreational, and historic trails. The Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail stretches from Wallowa Lake, Oregon, to the Bear Paw Battlefield near Chinook, Montana. It was added to this system by Congress as a National Historic Trail in 1986. The Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail stretches from Wallowa Lake, Oregon, to the Bear Paw Battlefield near Chinook, Montana. It was added to the National Trails System by Congress as a National Historic Trail in 1986. The Forest Service manages and cares for many National Scenic, Historic, and Recreation Trails with the help of countless volunteers and partners.