USDA
Clearwater National Forest
12730 Highway 12
Forest Service
Orofino, ID 83544
Contact: Kathy Thompson
208-476-8367
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rock cairns located at The Smoking Place, a site sacred to the Nez Perce Tribe, were vandalized some time in the past two weeks. Cairns appear to be piles of rocks stacked in a cone shape. One cairn was taken apart and the rocks scattered around the area. Two other cairns were tampered with, altered and rebuilt. The vandalism is in violation of federal law, which protects sacred sites and artifacts.
Sandi McFarland, Nez Perce tribal liaison with the Forest Service, says, “The vandalism of the rock cairns is an intentional attempt to steal a part of the Nimiipuu [Nez Perce people] history. It’s an invasion and destruction of hallowed ground.” McFarland concludes, “It’s a major crime perpetrated against present and future generations of Nimiipuu.”
The cairns are located along the Nee-Me-Poo Trail in the vicinity of the Lolo Motorway. The Nee-Me-Poo (Nez Perce) National Historic Trail commemorates the route the Nez Perce followed in 1877 in hopes of escaping the U.S. Army and life on a reservation.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped at The Smoking Place in 1806 on their eastward journey home across the high ridgeline route.
The Nee-Me-Poo Trail crosses Clearwater National Forest lands, and Forest Service law enforcement officers have been notified of the vandalism. There is a violation of the Archaeological Resource Protection Act and defacement of government property. The matter is under investigation. If you have information about the vandalism, please contact the North Fork Ranger District office in Orofino.
For more information call the North Fork Ranger District office at 208-476-4541.