Whitebird Battlefield 6/17/00

Horses from the M-Y Sweetwater Appaloosa Ranch in Tots Tetoken, Nez Perce Tribal Newspaper
l to r - Loretta Sobotta (on Prairie Dancer), Rosa Yearout (on Tall Chief), Angel McFarland, our daughter (on War Ponies Spirit), and Joe Lewis, our son-in-law (on Hotswal, Ida Ann Pinkham's horse from our herd). Sacred Pipe Ceremony being held in background.

"On June 17, Nez Perce and many of their friends gathered at the White Bird Battlefield to remember the battle that began the War of 1877. It was a war that the Nez Perce didn't want.

"This year marked the 123rd year since the Battle of White Bird and the beginning of the now famous Nez Perce flight for freedom."

This year there were 16 riders who participated in the Empty Saddle Ceremony: In addition to those in the above picture, there was Allen Pinkham, Sr., Marcus Oatman, Sr., Levi Holt, Carl Ray Powaukee, Kellen Lewis (our grandson), Jody Conner, Rudy Carter, Ted George, Donna Henry, Delco White and Jake Whiteplume.

M-Y SWEETWATER APPALOOSA RANCH located in NORTH-CENTRAL IDAHO, U.S.A.