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Tipi Poles And Tall Mountains, Bighole National Battlefield

Tipi poles on a dry grass prairie with tall blue mountains in the distance and dramatic storm clouds overhead, Big Hole National Battlefield
National Park Service
Monday, September 23, 2024

146 years ago today, just before dawn, gunshots rang out throughout the peaceful valley of ?ıckumcılé.lıkpe (Big Hole Valley), startling awake a sleeping camp of 800 nimí·pu· (Nez Perce). Hatalekin, an elder setting out to check upon his herd of horses, had been shot down by a group of Bitterroot civilian volunteers. Thus began the Battle of the Big Hole, wherein 60-90 nimí·pu·—largely women and children—and 31 soldiers and volunteers were killed. Big Hole National Battlefield in Montana was created to honor all who were there.

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