Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland Audio Tour

The Wallowa Valley holds many thousands of years of Nez Perce presence within its mountains, rivers, and canyons. On this reflective tour, you’ll explore a small part of the ancestral homeland of the Nez Perce (nimíipuu) people and learn how their relationship with this valley continues despite generations of displacement and separation. You’ll also be introduced to a living Indigenous culture that carries forward long-standing practices while building new connections with the land and local communities.

The tour begins at the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland Interpretive Center in downtown Wallowa. You’ll cross the Wallowa River and walk the circular path through the Homeland grounds while learning about nimíipuu culture, seasonal lifeways, and history. During this 60-minute walking tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Learn nimíipuu words and phrases
• Walk past the ceremonial longhouse and learn about its significance
• Visit the dance arbor where the annual Tamkaliks Celebration takes place
• Hear how Nez Perce people developed exceptional horsemanship and the Appaloosa breed
• Learn about the cultural importance of First Foods like salmon, water, and berries
• See how current restoration efforts are strengthening the Wallowa River ecosystem
• Hear an overview of the Exile of 1877 and its lasting impacts

The tour will end back at the Visitor Center, where you are welcome to spend more time with the exhibits and reflect on the Indigenous perspectives shared along the way.