First Contact Between Two Cultures

First Contact Between Two Cultures. Lewis and Clark Route. In late September of 1805, three young Nez Perce spied several men dressed in strange clothes and hats coming from the ridge to the southeast. The boys hid, but the men discovered two of them in the area behind this sign. The boys led these men to their village located on a small rise to the north, today occupied by the home across the road. . Because the warriors where away, these strangers were met cautiously. The strangers were obviously in poor condition and scarcely able to defend themselves. . William Clark's journal entry of September 20, 1805 read: . "...at a distance of 1 mile from the lodges I met three boys... they ran and hid themselves... (I) search and found 2 of the boys... gave them Small pieces of ribin & Sent them forward to the village... a man Came out to meet me, (with great caution)... & Conducted me to a larges Spacious Lodge which he told me (by Signs) was the Lodge of his great Chief... gave us a Small piece of Buffalow meat, some dried Salmon berries & roots... which they call Pas she co (quamash) . . For the Nez Perce this meeting meant the beginning of change for their way of life -- For the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition it meant survival. . This large sign stood for over 40 years at the Weippe Prairie site located 3 miles south of here. The National Park Service relocated it here to remind visitors of the significance of the meeting of Lewis and Clark with the Nez Perce Indians. Be sure to visit the historic Weippe Prairie Meeting site.