Near Chinook in Blaine County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
ćáynim?a•lika?spe
Bear Paw Battlefield Trail
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019
1. ćáynim?a•lika?spe Marker
Caption: (trail map at upper right) The 1.25-mile trail crosses the Nez Perce camp and siege defenses, loops around to the site of the initial attack, and returns pas the place of surrender. Start your walk clockwise, to the left.
Inscription.
ćáynim?a.lika?spe. Bear Paw Battlefield Trail. For the exhausted Nez Perce, this site, known to them as ćáynim?a.lika?spe (Place of Manure Fire), appeared to be a good place to rest before continuing to Canada. Then a large force of U.S. soldiers surprised them from the east. After the Nez Perce blocked the initial attack of September 30th, the battle became a six-day siege, with sniper's bullets and artillery fire. This landscape looks much as it did in 1877. Picture it as cold and snowing, which added to the suffering. As you walk, study the terrain and its role in the fighting, the nominal shelter it offered Nez Perce families, and ponder this place as the end of a four-month struggle. , People died here. Please stay on the trail to help respect this sacred ground. Do not disturb any commemorative objects you may encounter.
For the exhausted Nez Perce, this site, known to them as ćáynim?a•lika?spe (Place of Manure Fire), appeared to be a good place to rest before continuing to Canada. Then a large force of U.S. soldiers surprised them from the east. After the Nez Perce blocked the initial attack of September 30th, the battle became a six-day siege, with sniper's bullets and artillery fire.
This landscape looks much as it did in 1877. Picture it as cold and snowing, which added to the suffering. As you walk, study the terrain and its role in the fighting, the nominal shelter it offered Nez Perce families, and ponder this place as the end of a four-month struggle.
People died here. Please stay on the trail to help respect this sacred ground. Do not disturb any commemorative objects you may encounter.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the The Nez Perce Trail series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 30, 1877.
Location. 48° 22.676′ N, 109° 12.724′ W. Marker is near Chinook, Montana, in Blaine County. Marker is on Cleveland Road (County Road 240) near S-B
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Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chinook MT 59523, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This markers is located near the Bear Paw Battlefield parking lot.
Additional keywords. ćáynim?a•lika?spe
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019
2. ćáynim?a•lika?spe Marker
The marker is on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 21, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.