The Journey of the Nimiipuu

Man, I must be losing it. Took these pix, edited and completely forgot to blip them....gaaaah! Still not up to snuff here....

Anyway, this is the opening of the 2 farmers' markets and the Nimiipuu, or Nez Perce, sent a delegation from Oregon with their beautiful appaloosa horses, colorful regalia, drummers and dancers. the Nez Perce have a long history of trading with the people of the Bitterroot Valley. The friendship began with the first settlers as they traveled over the mountains to the buffalo hunting grounds. As they passed through, they stopped for days of trading, dancing and friendship games.
When Chief Joseph and his band fled from the army, who wanted to put them in a small reservation unsuited to their life-style, they came into the Bitterroot, seeking shelter, the locals hid them in barns and farmhouses until the army went elsewhere to look for them. alas, Joseph and his band were captured or killed before they could reach the Canadian border. The Big Hole Battlefield is just across the mountains from me and should be renamed the Big Hole Massacre.
The last picture in extras shows the Friendship Dance, where each native is paired with a local and we dance in a friendship circle.