Ta'c meeywi

The hypersensitive smoke alarm disturbed my kuy mamaac this meeywi. So, I decided to get an early start on some research for my next story. It's 5:45, and I've already put in a wash, taken a bath, washed and dried my hair, fed the cats, and completed another segment of research on the maamin for which the niimiipuu are credited.

As you may see by now, if you haven't gone to clean your glasses, my research involves the Nez Perce Tribe (niimiipuu) and its association with the Appaloosa (maamin) horse. The greeting in the headline is Nez Perce for "good morning."

Much of my research is coming from a very informative website (http://www.nezpercetrail.net/) dealing with the Nez Perce Trail Foundation. This organization has worked with various agencies over the past couple of decades to develop understanding and make decisions dealing with the trail taken by Chief Joseph (Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, or Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain) , his people and his horses when they fled the U.S. Cavalry in 1877.

The trail extends for more than 1,100 miles from Oregon through Central Idaho, Southern Idaho, Yellowstone Park and eventually to the Northeast corner of Montana.

The Nez Perce were 40 miles from the Canadian border in hopes of meeting up with Sitting Bull before the battle-weary Joseph surrendered, thinking he could return to his people in Oregon. Instead, he was taken to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and later sent to Northeast Washington near Spokane where he died in 1904.

My story will deal with how the Appaloosa horse has brought an understanding between the white and Indian cultures, especially since the organization of the Appaloosa Horse Club in the 1940s (of which my dad was a charter member) and the later Chief Joseph Trail Ride founded in the mid-1960s. Each year nearly 250 riders follow a segment of the route the Nez Perce took in 1877.

Fascinating stuff. Lilooyea (I'm thankful) for such assignments, especially because of my dad's influence and respect for the breed and its history.

Ta'c leeheyn to all.