They are the leading tribe in the Sahaptian linguistic stock.  The name means "nice pierced" in french.  The French named them because of their practice of wearing nose pendants.
    They are economy based in fish (especially salmon), and vegetable staples.  After the 1700's they started to kept horses and hunt buffalo.  In the winter they lived along the riverbanks in villages with houses built of bark, mats, and skins.  In the summer they lived in the mountains and in upland camas meadows.  They practiced weaving and decorating buffalo skins with paint and porcupine quills.  They're religious ceremony was a dance in honor of a Guardian Spirit.  They also performed war dances.

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                       Microsoft Encarta
                    Microsoft Co.
                    1994