Wallowa Band Nez Perce Trail Interpretive Center
Wallowa County, Eastern Oregon
Request: $29,713
This summer, Wallowa County experienced some of the worst wildfire and smoke conditions we have seen in years, forcing the cancellation of Saqáanma School, a six day program for Native youth. The program was scheduled for July 24–29: two days of land-based learning at the Homeland grounds followed by four days on the river.
Very few Nez Perce descendants live in Wallowa today, and social, economic, and logistical barriers make returning increasingly difficult. Yet in Nez Perce culture, homeland and identity are inseparable, and people carry a responsibility to know and care for this land. Programs like Saqáanma School create rare opportunities for Native youth to come back to wal’áwa, spend meaningful time on the land and water, and learn from Native educators.
When a program like this is canceled, it is not just a missed event—it can mean losing a rare opportunity for a young person to deepen their connection to this place and, through that, to their own identity.
Although we cannot recreate the river trip this year, the work of building that connection can continue in other ways. The Homeland will continue to create opportunities for Native youth to come here and engage with the land. For those who can’t come to wal’áwa this year, Saqáanma educators plan to bring pieces of that learning into the tribal communities where youth live through after-school programming that includes hands-on activities and environmental education.
Recovering these losses gives us greater flexibility to do both—to create opportunities for youth to come home when possible, while also carrying the relationships and learning of Saqáanma into their communities between visits.
$21,600 — Winding Waters River Expeditions: four-day river portion, July 26–29, paid in full by the Homeland.
$5,364 — Three Pandion staff on the river: six program days at $298/day.
$2,384 — Four additional educators: participating during the two Homeland-based days at $298/day.
$365.25 — Water-quality testing kits: purchased by Pandion for the program and now expired and unusable.
Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland total: $21,600
Pandion total: $8,113.25
Combined Total of direct, unrecoverable costs: $29,713.25.
