Lewis and Clark came back to Weippe

For centuries before the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery came to the Weippe Prairie, the Nez Perce Indians hunted, gathered camas and lived on the Weippe Prairie. Two-hundred years to the day they first met the Nez Perce, Lewis and Clark and their party of re-enactors returned.

Adults and students from all over the area were on hand to see the re-enactment of Lewis and Clark meeting the Nez Perce. Many of those who participated in the event walked the two miles from Weippe mini-park to the site. Others decided riding the bus was a better idea.

Lewis and Clark historian, Chuck Knowles, narrated the events for the audience. He told of the hard journey the Corps of Discovery had over the Bitterroot Mountains with nearly eight days of no food before a hunting party was sent ahead.

The crowd listened as the story continued about William Clark with an advance party of the best hunters in the Corps going ahead hoping that a smaller party would be less likely to scare the game.

They came riding across the Weippe Prairie and spotted three Indian boys playing in some grass. Two of the boys hid in the tall grass and one went to a nearby village to tell the elders.

Lewis dismounted and went alone to try and find the boys. He found the two and gave them ribbons as a show of friendship.

He then accompanied the boys back to their village. The Nez Perce were on the prairie gathering camas one of the staples of their diet.