Preface

Introduction

Working in Partnership with Others

The Purpose of the Park

Why is the Park Significant?

Telling the Park Stories

Park Overview

Interpretive Challenges and Opportunities

Resource Protection Challenges aned Opportunities

Existing Facilities for Visitor Use and Park Operations

The Plan

Implementation Concepts

Site-Specific Information

Appendix A: Legislation

Planning Team Members

References

Table of Contents

PREFACE

The drumbeat, the heartbeat, of the Nez Perce people has echoed across the forests, rivers and canyons of the homeland for a very, very long time. It continues to be heard today -- loud and clear and stronger than ever. The reverberations are felt at pow wows and basketball games, at rodeos and horse shows, on the fire line, in the classroom, in the huckleberry patches and fishing places and camas digging grounds, in beadwork and cornhusk and artistry in many forms.

Once heard it is hard to forget. It carries messages for those who would listen -- messages of hope and despair, of deception and triumph, of pain and guilt, laughter and joy. It speaks to us as human beings -- where we have been and where we are going. And it helps define us as a nation.

While the words in the following document are managerial and administrative by nature, they are driven by the realization that Nez Perce National Historical Park is a park about a people for all people. It is not one place, but many. It is not one story, but a multitude of them. It is not one viewpoint, but many more than one. It is often controversial and emotional. This document acknowledges all of these things and does its best to set a course for the future.

Top