Physical Address
357 Agency Rd,
Lapwai, ID 83540
On Monday, June 23, the Lapwai High School Auditorium filled with students, staff, and community members for a powerful storytelling presentation titled Nez Perce Perspectives: Events of 1877, coordinated by the Nez Perce Education Department. Otis Halfmoon shared teachings he was told growing up. He spoke for nearly two hours, weaving together tribal oral history, personal memories, and hard truths often omitted from mainstream accounts.
Halfmoon described childhood teachings from elders who survived the 1877 War, stories told around sweat lodges and family fires, and the responsibility of carrying those memories forward. His storytelling was raw and unscripted, covering the events at White Bird Canyon, the Big Hole battlefield, and Bear Paw. He also spoke about the sacrifices of Red Heart’s band, the mourning songs of women during battle, and the relationships with Crow and Sioux families that helped our people survive while seeking safety. Halfmoon spoke about the duty to carry this cultural memory into the future.
The event closed with heartfelt words from Education Director Joyce McFarland, who reflected on the emotional weight of the stories shared and encouraged the audience to carry them forward.
