The teachings of tamá•lwit show us how to live in reciprocity with our relatives of the land and water. This principal provides the framework for how we at Nez Perce Wal’áwa Homeland think about relationship building, generational succession, land stewardship and our daily operations. To put those teachings into practice, we define six values embodied in tamá•lwit to guide our work.

Our mission is to deepen the connection between the wal’áwa country and all those who care about it. We inspire a way of working together as wé·tesne qicxnew̓é·t (caretakers of the earth) to rekindle relationships and welcome people home.

Our Story

Nez Perce people have always stewarded and lived with the lands now called Wallowa County. This way of life was interrupted in the early 1870’s when the valley was settled and respected wal’wá•ma leader and elder tiwi•teqis’ passed on. His son hinmató•wyalahtqit went on to lead the people of wal’áwa through the events of 1877 and beyond, when the wal’wá•ma band was removed, scattered and exiled. Our organization exists to remedy the bonds that were broken through these events, and to be part of a new story that tells of connection, synergy and resilience. To learn more about Nez Perce history, and particularly the wal’wá•ma, explore our Virtual Tour and the Recommended Reading (Appendix E).

Today, descendants of this ancestral home live on the Umatilla, Nez Perce and Colville Indian Reservations, as well as at Yakama, Warm Springs and as far away as Canada. We, the Nez Perce Wal’áwa Homeland, are a coalition of tribal and non-tribal individuals with shared values and a shared love of wal’áwa. We work together in support of the descendants of the wal’wá•ma band of Nez Perce, who are a part of this place and whose presence is essential for the well-being of all.

When the ancestors lived here, people of many tribes came to this area to gather foods, trade and camp. Although very few tribal people live in Wallowa today, people have not forgotten that this place, wal’áwa, is home. In 1989, Taz Conner, a wal’wá•ma descendant, joined with members of the Wallowa city council to host a cultural celebration planned by and for tribal people who wished to sing, dance and feast in their ancestral homeland. The draw of the wal’áwa homeland is strong, and interest has grown such that today the 323-acre celebration grounds is host to the annual Tamkaliks Celebration as well a traditional longhouse, trails, campground and housing. The downtown office space and visitor center are managed by local staff and governed by board members hailing from the Wallowa Valley and tribal communities across the northwest. Learn more about the founding of our organization in the Foundation Document (Appendix F).

The Nez Perce Wal’áwa Homeland provides much more than a place to reunite once a year. The comforts of our facilities and hospitality of friends and colleagues offer a warm welcome to dispersed descendants of the wal’wá•ma and all who seek to connect with and honor this home. Together we work to amplify the light shining from this land, as a beacon to those returning and an instructor for those who live and work upon it. Through the practice of Indigenous lifeways in the wal’áwa homeland — feet touching the earth, foods being gathered, language being spoken, songs being sung, plant and animal relatives being honored and protected and fragmented communities coming home in friendship — health and healing are restored to land, water and people.

For thirty-two years and counting, building a place of homecoming has been the central goal of the Nez Perce Wal’áwa Homeland. Volunteers, supporters, staff and professionals have shown up and worked hard, for decades. In doing so, we have not only built an amazing place with unparalleled amenities, but we have shaped an organization founded on tenets of trust, sharing and responsibility. It has not always been easy, but caretaking the grounds together has effectively strengthened our bonds of kinship and stewardship. We see history being made in the present. We lift each other up to ensure the future we are inspiring is a vibrant, safe and happy one. This dynamic and flexible organization is well-equipped today to grow our impact. We are stepping into the next ten years not only as a place to gather, but as a hub for people to connect with each other and the entirety of the Wallowa country.

Our Strategic Planning Process

Since the incorporation of the Wallowa Band Nez Perce Trail Interpretive Center (WBNPTIC), now known as the Nez Perce Wal’áwa Homeland, there has been a continuing precedent to gather input from participants across three regional reservations and among Wallowa County residents. A variety of formal documentation from the early days of this project have informed this Strategic Plan, as well as the minutes from Annual Planning Meetings dating back to 2005. Focus groups were held in 2015 at all three reservation locations, and staff-led planning sessions in March of 2018 and March of 2020 generated further insight about tribal and non-tribal perspectives on the priority work of this organization, as it pertains to interpretation, programming, mission, vision and day-to-day activities. Reports and records from the efforts described above are available to all, and are filed in the office and online as “Strategic Plan Source Documentation.” A Strategic Planning committee convened in March of 2022, with representation from all three reservations and Wallowa County, to guide the drafting of this document. The Action Plans and Resources found in the Appendices are subject to regular updates as approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.

Our Three Goals

wéete qicx̣new’éet : Caretake the Earth
himiyunéewit piiwatíiqahalkt : Reciprocal Relationships
kúnk’u wax̣ kúnk’u : Continue Always and Forever

Goal: Together, steward land and water across Wallowa country

Within 10 Years: The 323-acre celebration grounds in Wallowa is exemplary in regenerative management.

Within 30 Years: Landowners and tribal families are working together to repatriate acreage throughout Wallowa County, furthering Indigenous private land ownership and participation in local governance.

Within 100 Years: Stewardship of Wallowa lands, both public and private, is a collaborative and inclusive act that is reflected in the abundant health of the ecosystem here.

Strategies and Tactics:

Together, promote Nez Perce presence, relationship and belonging across Wallowa country

Within 10 Years: A variety of events and services establish an accessible pathway home for generations to come. 

Within 30 Years: Indigenous people of this valley increasingly reside, raise families, work, celebrate, practice culture and walk the land here in wal’áwa.

Within 100 Years: Abundant cross-cultural relationships are rooted in shared understanding and mutual respect for history and tradition.

Strategies and Tactics:

Plan for perpetuity, together

10 Years, 30 Years and 100 Years: Cultivate, maintain and expand the connections, skills, resources and physical spaces essential to ongoing pursuit of the mission.

Strategies and Tactics:

Thank You

The Nez Perce Wal’áwa Homeland receives strong local and regional support. Contributors include individual citizens, private foundations, the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the National Park Service and the USDA Forest Service.

Complete List of Public and Private Funders
See Development Plan (Appendix C)

2019-2022 Capacity Building Funders
Oregon Community Foundation
Collins Foundation

2023 Operational Support
National Endowment for the Arts
Oregon Humanities
Inatai Foundation
Seeding Justice
Roundhouse Foundation

Board of Directors

Visit our Board Page

2023 Staff

Staff Page

An incomplete, ever-growing list of those who have given so much of themselves to this project.

Adele Guyer, Albert Andrews Redstar, Alice Parman, Alvin Josephy, Andrea Axtell, Amelia Marchand, Andrew Wildbill, Ann McCormack, Armand Minthorn, Beaulah Wynans, Ben Boswell, Lukas Angus, Bud Phillips, Bessie Scott, Betty Conrad, Bill Fisher, Bill Timentwa, Bob Williams, Bobbie Conner, Brenda Axtell, Brian Conner, Brian McCormack, Bruce Coutant, Cindy Fine, Bud Fischer, Cameron Albee, Carl Sampson, Angelika Ursula Dietrich, Carla Marconi, Carla Timentwa, Cathy Quistgard, Cece Whitewolf, Charlie Moses Jr., Margaret Moses, Charlotte Watters, Chris Geyer, Christopher Williams, Dave Clark, Dave Flynn, Dave Gilbert, David Smythe, Debbie Carson, Deborrah Reth, Dee Penney, Don Green, Don Stein, Donovan Shaw, Doug Chrisman, Douglas Marconi Jr., Earl ‘Taz’ Conner, Ed Chiffons, Eddy Adams, Elena Basset, Elwayne Henderson, Eric Carlson, Etta Conner Scott, J Johansen, Liam Slater, Lloyd Pinkham, Clark Schimeall, Allan Pinkham Sr., Allan Pinkham Jr., Josiah Blackeagle Pinkham, Jim Franey, Joyce White, Florene L. Davis, Frank Walker, Fred Hill, Gabrielle Moses, Jenner Hanni, Glen McDonald, Gordan Higheagle, Grace Bartlett, Horace Axtell, Irvin Watters, Connie Watters, Jack Conley, George and Helen Gabriel, James Lawyer, Jamie T. Williams, Angela Bombaci Harvey, Jason Crenshaw, Jesse Leighton, Jim Chapman, Jo Hallam, Jodi Conner, Joe McCormack, Joe Whittle, Jon Rombach, Jon Yearout, Kathy Willett, Katie Harris, Kendall Clark, Kirk Skovlin, Camille Crenshaw, Kristin Albee, Leah Conner, Leita Barlow, Steve Grant, Milley O’ Callaghan, Liam O’ Callaghan, Linda Jones, Angel Sobotta, Linda Sue Lewis, Linda Watters, Leslie Moses, Lisa Lang, Milton ‘Jewie’ Moses, Loretta Halfmoon, Louie Dick, Maggie Conley, Mamie McCrae, Marie Marek, River Whittle, Marty Davis, Mary Hart, Mary Hawkins, Mary Knutson, Matthew Jensen, Melanie Crenshaw, Michael McFarland, Michelle Perales, Mikey Penney, Jean Grandy, Lee Perkins, Nancy Crenshaw, Terry Crenshaw, Nancy L. Broncheau, Nancy Lincoln, John Hillock, Nola Colvin, Norman McCrae, Larry Forsgren, Paul Henderson, R.D. Carson, Ralph Anderson, Ralph Swinehart, Randal Minthorn, Rich Wandschneider, Rick Swart, Rob Lamb, Jane Harshman, Rodney Cawston, Ron Cameron, Ron Peterson, Ronald Halfmoon, Rosa Yearout, Liam Roy Hellwig, Sally Carlson, Sara Averbeck, Sara Miller, Sharon Redthunder, Sid Roberts, Sidney Austin, Silas Whitman, Skip Novakovich, Pistol Pete Wilson, Larry Green Jr., Skip Royes, Soy Redthunder, Star Longley, Steve Axtell, Susan Sprague, Suzanne Smith, Tessie Williams, Tom Hampson, Verl Lewis, Wilfred Scott, Woodrow Star

Contact information

Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland Visitor Center
209 East Second St., Wallowa, OR 97885
541.886.3101, info@wallowanezperce.org

The Homeland
70956 Whiskey Creek Rd., Wallowa, OR 97885
Open to the public dawn to dusk, seven days a week (except during special events)

Map of grounds

Link to Visit Us Page

Appendices

Appendix A: Grounds and Facilities Plan

Prepared annually in the fall by the Grounds and Facilities Committee.

The Grounds and Facilities Plan will provide a three, five and ten year outlook on management of the grounds and all facilities owned by the Nez Perce Wal’áwa Homeland. Property and assets will be broken out into zones, with public usage and management concerns, priorities and goals identified for each zone.

Topics considered in this plan will include:

• Vegetation (Plantings, trees, weeds, haying, grazing, irrigation)

• Access (fencing, roads, trails, vehicles, horses, recreation)

• Habitat (Restoration, protection)

• Facilities (Maintenance, new construction, safety, utilization policy & procedures)

• Interpretation (signage, public engagement, programming)

Appendix B: Engagement Plan

Prepared and updated in January of each year by the Engagement Committee.

The Engagement Plan will describe NPWH outreach and marketing strategies, and maintain a yearlong outlook on all programs developed, presented, administered and hosted by the Wal’áwa Homeland.

Topics considered in this plan will include:

• Confirm organizational name, vision and mission statements and tagline

• Identify target audiences

• Describe our goals for public perception

• Establish a branding ‘style guide’ including key language usage, fonts, colors and logo

• Plan promotional materials including website, brochures and newsletters

• Plan publicity avenues and categories of communication, and set goals for outreach

  • Print publications

  • Online publications

  • Social media

• Set goals for community partnerships

• Set goals for participation, including volunteerism and board membership

• Include a table of National, Regional and Local media outlets, contacts and publishing schedule

• Create 12 month calendar. All programming development, planning, funding, and implementation benchmarks will be broken out into monthly tasks, including:

  • Contact information & Program Dates (for partners and programs hosted by our facilities)

  • Program Funding (grant application deadlines, fundraising events & campaigns, etc.)

  • Administrative Tasks (marketing deadlines, scheduling meetings, etc.)

  • Program Needs & Site Preparation (gathering materials, preparing facilities & sites, coordinating transportation, curriculum development, etc.)

  • Post-Program/Wrap-Up (grant reporting, cleaning facilities, program reflections/revisions, etc.)

Appendix C: Development Plan

Developed in 2023 and updated every year by the Development Committee.

A committee of Board and Staff will review and update the Development Plan each year in January to align with organizational finances & programmatic goals for that year. The Development Plan will describe fundraising strategies and goals using a structure that makes sense for the board of directors, organizational finances, programmatic goals and fundraising trends at that time.

The Development Plan will include:

• A Board Fundraising Model Structure that has been approved by the board of directors

• A financial review of the previous two years that includes: profit & loss statements, a written statement of financial position

• Analysis of fundraising efforts from the past two years

• Organizational annual budget

• Program goals for the next 1 and 2 years, and projected associated expenses

• Identified fundraising strategies, goals, & tactics

• Financial goals by revenue source (includes earned income, sales, donations & grants)

• Donor stewardship: target audiences & goals for participation

• Timeline for each strategy, including benchmarks

• Resources needed for each strategy

• Who will participate? (list of staff, board, volunteers involved)

• Projected expenses (supplies, administrative time, advertising, etc)

Appendix D: Staff Work Plan

Prepared annually by Staff.

The Staff Work Plan will be presented to the Executive Committee during the first committee meeting of each year. It will demonstrate the steps that staff will take throughout the coming year to implement tactics as outlined in the Strategic Plan. The plan will be broken down by project/program and staff member/s responsible, and will include a timeline of tasks, activities and fundraising needs for the year.

Appendix E: Recommended Reading

Appendix F: NPWH Foundation Document, 2004