Whitebird Battlefield 6/17/00

String of Nez Perce Riders, the Mountains & Memorial Schedule
(Pictures and layout by Antonio Smith of the Tots Tetoken staff.) The hills surrounding the Whitebird Battlefield are in background. The profile of the lone horsemen is that of Levi Holt, Nez Perce tribal member who works with the Wolf Recovery Program at Winchester, Idaho.

A pipe ceremony was held while the riders went into the battlefield, where a sacred circle was formed. After an opening song, each rider shared some personal thoughts on the ride and the area. The need for healing and reconciliation was frequently mentioned. We can carry and then pass on to our descendants the wrongs done to our ancestors and to us. In turn, we ask forgiveness for things that we and our ancestors have done against others. Can we wipe the slate clean? Do we want to? It wouldn't hurt to try, would it?

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