Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) warrior hímiin maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf) made four arrows that were replicas of arrows originally used by Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) warriors in the Nez Perce War of 1877. Specifically, the original arrows were used in Lamáta (The Battle of White Bird Canyon), the first battle of the Nez Perce War of 1877, which occurred June 17, 1877. Some Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) were considered highly skilled arrow craftsmen as they needed to have knowledge of the specific materials used to make arrows, be very precise in their construction of the arrows, and test the arrows to perfect them. In Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) culture, men received spiritual guidance from their elders and ancestors regarding specific skills, including arrow craftsmanship.
This specific replica wood arrow is one of the two arrows that have steel-tipped points. All four replica arrows have feather fletching, most likely from qáya (hawk) feathers. Records indicate that hímiin maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf) made these four replica arrows specifically for L.V. McWhorter in the early 1900s.
This steel-tipped replica arrow is cataloged as 1986.2.65. The other items in the photograph include a set of five arrows at the top of the photograph owned by Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) warrior páaxat'ipéetehemkt (Five Fogs) (1986.2.87-91). Beneath these five arrows are the three additional replica arrows created by hímiin maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf). The other steel-tipped arrow is 1986.2.64 and the two wood sharpened arrows without steel-tips are cataloged as 1986.2.66 and 1986.2.67.
