ELIZABETH WILSON, GUARDIAN OF TRADITIONS
The Lewiston Tribune, May 6, 1990
Elizabeth P. Wilson was born in 1882 on the main fork of the Clearwater River near Kooskia on the 21st day of the month when ''travel is difficult, bitter and cold winds'' (January).
Her father was a non-Indian from Arkansas named Ben D. Penney. He died when she was 12 years old. Her mother, Tukpe-me (literally, ''from the South Fork of the Clearwater''), taught her Nez Perce folklore, customs and living skills. At the early age of 8, she began her formal education by attending school at Lapwai, 100 miles downriver and a two-day ride on horseback and unaccompanied.
She left her home from 1902 to 1909 to attend the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, where she majored in ''domestic science and commercial studies'' and became an accomplished pianist. As part of her studies, Wilson lived for several years with a Quaker family in Lancaster County.
Following graduation, she did post-graduate work at Carlisle for a year, then attended the Lewiston Business College. But she traveled on horseback every weekend to Kamiah to attend church at the First Presbyterian Church.
In 1910, she married Isaac Wilson, who later died. In 1935, the distinguished artist, Rowena Alcorn, began a 20-year project to document the Nez Perce people and survivors of the Nez Perce War. Wilson and her son, Angus, participated in this project, recounting places and names as were told to them of historical events of the war.
Forever involved in civic duties, Wilson also escorted her lifelong friend, Agnes Moses, who was 91, serving as her interpreter to visits of childhood places on the reservation. Agnes Moses was the daughter of Tolo, who warned the white settlers on June 12, 1877, of the pending Nez Perce battle at White Bird. Moses also was one of the first recipients of the $1,200 checks issued in 1961 in payment for lost fishing rights in the Celilo Falls settlement.
Being concerned about the younger people of the tribe who could not speak the Nez Perce language, Wilson participated in a language study with Haruo Aoki (1960-1972) from the University of California, Berkeley. Other tribal members who participated were Harry and Ida Wheeler, Mary Carter, Lucile Raboin, Beatrice Miles and Almeta Stevens. This work resulted in a published, written language of the tribe.
In 1970, Wilson participated in a cooperative effort with the tribe and Lewis-Clark State College to revive interest and skills in Indian craftsmanship, and create a tourist market for native arts and crafts.
Wilson served as supervisor of the project with Nancy Stalter of the college. Other specialty instructors included Isabelle Saunders of Kooskia and Agnes John of Stites, in beadwork; Almeta Stevens of Kamiah, cornhusk bag weaving; and Dorcus Harrison of Kooskia, in buckskin tanning.
In 1973, on the 24th day in the month when ''travel is difficult, cold and bitter winds,'' Wilson died. But the voice and teachings of Wilson will live on for many generations on tapes and written records of her work. She will be most remembered for being good hearted, cheerful, with clarity of mind and a quick wit.
Her recordings of language, history, places, events and people are priceless contributions to the tribe. She has handed down to the next generation, using modern technology, an ancient oral tradition of the tribe a history that is not recorded in Idaho history books, but within the hearts and memories of our elders.
The Lewiston Tribune, May 6, 1990
Elizabeth P. Wilson was born in 1882 on the main fork of the Clearwater River near Kooskia on the 21st day of the month when ''travel is difficult, bitter and cold winds'' (January).
Her father was a non-Indian from Arkansas named Ben D. Penney. He died when she was 12 years old. Her mother, Tukpe-me (literally, ''from the South Fork of the Clearwater''), taught her Nez Perce folklore, customs and living skills. At the early age of 8, she began her formal education by attending school at Lapwai, 100 miles downriver and a two-day ride on horseback and unaccompanied.
She left her home from 1902 to 1909 to attend the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, where she majored in ''domestic science and commercial studies'' and became an accomplished pianist. As part of her studies, Wilson lived for several years with a Quaker family in Lancaster County.
Following graduation, she did post-graduate work at Carlisle for a year, then attended the Lewiston Business College. But she traveled on horseback every weekend to Kamiah to attend church at the First Presbyterian Church.
In 1910, she married Isaac Wilson, who later died. In 1935, the distinguished artist, Rowena Alcorn, began a 20-year project to document the Nez Perce people and survivors of the Nez Perce War. Wilson and her son, Angus, participated in this project, recounting places and names as were told to them of historical events of the war.
Forever involved in civic duties, Wilson also escorted her lifelong friend, Agnes Moses, who was 91, serving as her interpreter to visits of childhood places on the reservation. Agnes Moses was the daughter of Tolo, who warned the white settlers on June 12, 1877, of the pending Nez Perce battle at White Bird. Moses also was one of the first recipients of the $1,200 checks issued in 1961 in payment for lost fishing rights in the Celilo Falls settlement.
Being concerned about the younger people of the tribe who could not speak the Nez Perce language, Wilson participated in a language study with Haruo Aoki (1960-1972) from the University of California, Berkeley. Other tribal members who participated were Harry and Ida Wheeler, Mary Carter, Lucile Raboin, Beatrice Miles and Almeta Stevens. This work resulted in a published, written language of the tribe.
In 1970, Wilson participated in a cooperative effort with the tribe and Lewis-Clark State College to revive interest and skills in Indian craftsmanship, and create a tourist market for native arts and crafts.
Wilson served as supervisor of the project with Nancy Stalter of the college. Other specialty instructors included Isabelle Saunders of Kooskia and Agnes John of Stites, in beadwork; Almeta Stevens of Kamiah, cornhusk bag weaving; and Dorcus Harrison of Kooskia, in buckskin tanning.
In 1973, on the 24th day in the month when ''travel is difficult, cold and bitter winds,'' Wilson died. But the voice and teachings of Wilson will live on for many generations on tapes and written records of her work. She will be most remembered for being good hearted, cheerful, with clarity of mind and a quick wit.
Her recordings of language, history, places, events and people are priceless contributions to the tribe. She has handed down to the next generation, using modern technology, an ancient oral tradition of the tribe a history that is not recorded in Idaho history books, but within the hearts and memories of our elders.
ELIZABETH WILSON, GUARDIAN OF TRADITIONS
The Lewiston Tribune, May 6, 1990
Elizabeth P. Wilson was born in 1882 on the main fork of the Clearwater River near Kooskia on the 21st day of the month when ''travel is difficult, bitter and cold winds'' (January).
Her father was a non-Indian from Arkansas named Ben D. Penney. He died when she was 12 years old. Her mother, Tukpe-me (literally, ''from the South Fork of the Clearwater''), taught her Nez Perce folklore, customs and living skills. At the early age of 8, she began her formal education by attending school at Lapwai, 100 miles downriver and a two-day ride on horseback and unaccompanied.
She left her home from 1902 to 1909 to attend the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, where she majored in ''domestic science and commercial studies'' and became an accomplished pianist. As part of her studies, Wilson lived for several years with a Quaker family in Lancaster County.
Following graduation, she did post-graduate work at Carlisle for a year, then attended the Lewiston Business College. But she traveled on horseback every weekend to Kamiah to attend church at the First Presbyterian Church.
In 1910, she married Isaac Wilson, who later died. In 1935, the distinguished artist, Rowena Alcorn, began a 20-year project to document the Nez Perce people and survivors of the Nez Perce War. Wilson and her son, Angus, participated in this project, recounting places and names as were told to them of historical events of the war.
Forever involved in civic duties, Wilson also escorted her lifelong friend, Agnes Moses, who was 91, serving as her interpreter to visits of childhood places on the reservation. Agnes Moses was the daughter of Tolo, who warned the white settlers on June 12, 1877, of the pending Nez Perce battle at White Bird. Moses also was one of the first recipients of the $1,200 checks issued in 1961 in payment for lost fishing rights in the Celilo Falls settlement.
Being concerned about the younger people of the tribe who could not speak the Nez Perce language, Wilson participated in a language study with Haruo Aoki (1960-1972) from the University of California, Berkeley. Other tribal members who participated were Harry and Ida Wheeler, Mary Carter, Lucile Raboin, Beatrice Miles and Almeta Stevens. This work resulted in a published, written language of the tribe.
In 1970, Wilson participated in a cooperative effort with the tribe and Lewis-Clark State College to revive interest and skills in Indian craftsmanship, and create a tourist market for native arts and crafts.
Wilson served as supervisor of the project with Nancy Stalter of the college. Other specialty instructors included Isabelle Saunders of Kooskia and Agnes John of Stites, in beadwork; Almeta Stevens of Kamiah, cornhusk bag weaving; and Dorcus Harrison of Kooskia, in buckskin tanning.
In 1973, on the 24th day in the month when ''travel is difficult, cold and bitter winds,'' Wilson died. But the voice and teachings of Wilson will live on for many generations on tapes and written records of her work. She will be most remembered for being good hearted, cheerful, with clarity of mind and a quick wit.
Her recordings of language, history, places, events and people are priceless contributions to the tribe. She has handed down to the next generation, using modern technology, an ancient oral tradition of the tribe a history that is not recorded in Idaho history books, but within the hearts and memories of our elders.
The Lewiston Tribune, May 6, 1990
Elizabeth P. Wilson was born in 1882 on the main fork of the Clearwater River near Kooskia on the 21st day of the month when ''travel is difficult, bitter and cold winds'' (January).
Her father was a non-Indian from Arkansas named Ben D. Penney. He died when she was 12 years old. Her mother, Tukpe-me (literally, ''from the South Fork of the Clearwater''), taught her Nez Perce folklore, customs and living skills. At the early age of 8, she began her formal education by attending school at Lapwai, 100 miles downriver and a two-day ride on horseback and unaccompanied.
She left her home from 1902 to 1909 to attend the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, where she majored in ''domestic science and commercial studies'' and became an accomplished pianist. As part of her studies, Wilson lived for several years with a Quaker family in Lancaster County.
Following graduation, she did post-graduate work at Carlisle for a year, then attended the Lewiston Business College. But she traveled on horseback every weekend to Kamiah to attend church at the First Presbyterian Church.
In 1910, she married Isaac Wilson, who later died. In 1935, the distinguished artist, Rowena Alcorn, began a 20-year project to document the Nez Perce people and survivors of the Nez Perce War. Wilson and her son, Angus, participated in this project, recounting places and names as were told to them of historical events of the war.
Forever involved in civic duties, Wilson also escorted her lifelong friend, Agnes Moses, who was 91, serving as her interpreter to visits of childhood places on the reservation. Agnes Moses was the daughter of Tolo, who warned the white settlers on June 12, 1877, of the pending Nez Perce battle at White Bird. Moses also was one of the first recipients of the $1,200 checks issued in 1961 in payment for lost fishing rights in the Celilo Falls settlement.
Being concerned about the younger people of the tribe who could not speak the Nez Perce language, Wilson participated in a language study with Haruo Aoki (1960-1972) from the University of California, Berkeley. Other tribal members who participated were Harry and Ida Wheeler, Mary Carter, Lucile Raboin, Beatrice Miles and Almeta Stevens. This work resulted in a published, written language of the tribe.
In 1970, Wilson participated in a cooperative effort with the tribe and Lewis-Clark State College to revive interest and skills in Indian craftsmanship, and create a tourist market for native arts and crafts.
Wilson served as supervisor of the project with Nancy Stalter of the college. Other specialty instructors included Isabelle Saunders of Kooskia and Agnes John of Stites, in beadwork; Almeta Stevens of Kamiah, cornhusk bag weaving; and Dorcus Harrison of Kooskia, in buckskin tanning.
In 1973, on the 24th day in the month when ''travel is difficult, cold and bitter winds,'' Wilson died. But the voice and teachings of Wilson will live on for many generations on tapes and written records of her work. She will be most remembered for being good hearted, cheerful, with clarity of mind and a quick wit.
Her recordings of language, history, places, events and people are priceless contributions to the tribe. She has handed down to the next generation, using modern technology, an ancient oral tradition of the tribe a history that is not recorded in Idaho history books, but within the hearts and memories of our elders.
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