Sahaptian-Penutian mythology

Sahaptian-Penutian mythology

The mythology Sahaptienne-Penutienne brings together the following Amerindian peoples:  Nez-Piercés, Yakamas, Klamaths, Modocs.

The Sahaptian languages are a small family of Native American languages spoken in the northwestern United States. Edward Sapir included them in his hypothesis of languages penutians, within the Penutian Plateaux subgroup.

The Nose-Pierced, Nimíipuu, are a Native American tribe of the group penutian who lived in the Columbia Plateau of the Pacific Northwest at the time of Lewis and Clark's expedition.

The memory of the Nez-Percés remains intact through the breeding and selection of the appaloosa horse, native to the Palouse River, and their heroic resistance during their escape over several thousand kilometers under the leadership of Chief Joseph. The term Pierced nose is an exonym given by French or French-speaking Canadian fur traders who were the first to come into contact with members of the tribe. This term has been taken up by English speakers.

The nation of Yakamas (formerly Yakimas) lives in Washington State in the northwestern United States.

The Klamaths are a Native American people who lived in southern Oregon. They are related to other peoples of the Columbia Plateau, and particularly to the Modocs.