28K 56K 256K HTML Transcript

Listen, as Beatrice Miles, tribal elder, tells the story of Wetxuuwíis. (Interviewed by Josiah Pinkham in Decmeber 2001)

From the accounts handed down from the oral history of the Nimíipuu, if it had not been for Wetxuuwíis (Wet-k'hoo-wees), the Lewis and Clark would have ended their journey far short of their goal.

After the Nimíipuu had acquired the horse in the 1730s, they began traveling over the Bitterroot Mountains in greater frequency to hunt the buffalo of the northern plains. While they encountered many tribes who remained friendly, other tribes became hostile toward the Nimíipuu. On one of these occasions, the Isq'oykiniz (Blackfeet) raided a Nimíipuu camp and captured several young people, including the girl, Wetxuuwíis. It was the practice of some tribes to keep "slaves" of their captives. Eventually, Wetxuuwíis was traded to the Mandan but later escaped her captivity. During this time she became acquainted with many "people with light skin," whom the Nimíipuu call, "soyaapo," or whiteman. After some time and guided by the "wolf," Wetxuuwíis made her way back among her own people, where she was given the name, "Wetxuuwíis," meaning, "the person who returned home."

When the Corps of Discovery first came upon a Nimíipuu village near the Uyayp (Weippe) prairie during the time of Q'emes (camas) harvesting, where there was a great discussion among the people. Just who were these "fool smelling, hairy beasts"? Were they even human - perhaps half human and half animal? Some men said these strangers should be killed. Nimíipuu could have easily killed the men of the Corps of Discovery.

28K 56K 256K HTML Transcript

Reiterating this important story, Angel Sobotta discusses the importance of Wetxuuwíis for the Nimíipuu as well as for the soyaapo (Interviewed by Ann McCormack in February 2002)

But it was Wetxuuwíis, now a respected elder, who stepped forward and spoke of her experiences with the soyaapos. She had found the soyaapos be to a "very friendly and considerate people," who had even helped her on her journey home. Her words carried the day and the men of the Lewis and Clark expedition were welcomed, fed and sheltered by the Nimíipuu.

< previous | next >