Nez Perce National Historical Park
Women's Horse Regalia
Women's Horse Regalia
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National Historical Park
1965 Park Size 4,561 acres Annual Visitors 377,000 Park Fee none Superintendent Steve Thede Park Partner Discover Your Northwest Location 38 sites across four states: ID, MT, OR, WA |
Nez Perce National Historical Park features valleys, prairies, mountains, and plateaus of the Columbia River watershed in the inland Pacific Northwest, ancestral and current home of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people for more than 11,500 years. The "Park About a People for all People" protects the Nez Perce sites, stories, culture, artistry, and lands that exemplify what it means to survive and thrive in a changing world.
In 2024, the park completed a thorough renovation of the park's visitor center in Spalding, Idaho, including an exhibit celebrating the mastery of the horse and knowledge of the land. In 2023, The Fund for People in Parks funded the fabrication of men's horse regalia by Indigenous artists using traditional techniques. Now, the Fund seeks to further honor Nimiipuu culture by expanding the horse regalia exhibit to include women's horse regalia, which traditionally has more decoration and attire than men's regalia. Hired artists of the Nez Perce Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will create colorful, authentic adornments - a saddle drape with long fringe, crupper, rounded martingale, beaded parade bag, beaded panels for reins, and saddle fenders. Funding Needed: $15,720 Project Approved: 2024 Project co-funder: National Park Service The horse is a vital way of life for the Niimípuu and continues to be a significant measure of their traditional culture. It is quite impactful and meaningful for all to see such artistic pieces and beautiful representations of Niimípuu horse regalia." |
The completed horse regalia exhibit at the park's visitor center, featuring men's horse regalia
