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NIMÍIPUU YOUTH PROJECT

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

NIMÍIPUU YOUTH PROJECTS

  • STRENGTHENING OUR CIRCLE

    ELDERS AND YOUTH are at the center of our communities - their strong bond strengthens our circle, passing on traditional knowledge, language and practices. Our work is intergenerational and culturally based, connecting elders, community, leaders and youth to carry on wisdom from generations before and to protect generations to come. Working together across generations makes a movement stronger and builds relationships throughout our circle.

  • MENTORING & LEADERSHIP

    Working together across generations makes a movement stronger and builds relationships throughout our circle. We connect elders and community leaders with youth to carry on wisdom from generations before and to protect generations to come. We are working with the Lapwai Elementary School 4th and 5th Grade After School Program with arts and crafts activities, canoe carving and paddle making, beadwork and education on Environmental issues.

    Food is provided. Find us at the Nimíipuu Canoe Site in Lapwai Wednesdays at 3pm. Come volunteer and support our youth and fun events!

  • INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING & ARTS

    Preserving language, stories and traditions keeps Nimiipuu identity alive. Youth immerse in Nez Perce arts, crafts, language and stories, keeping cultural fire alive amid modern pressures. These programs bridge elders and youth, preserving lifeways and identity so treaty rights and who we are as Nimiipuu People endure for generations to come.

  • TREATIES PROTECT OUR FUTURE

    Protecting future generations means investing time and resources now; trusting youth with knowledge and responsibility; and making sure they’re not just beneficiaries, but caretakers. If young Nimíipuu people don’t learn what the treaties say, why they exist and how they’re challenged today, then those rights weaken over time. A youth project builds treaty literacy early & turns that value into action, so future leaders are ready to protect what ancestors fought to secure.

  • FIRST FOODS, GARDENS & ORCHARDS

    NIMÍIPUU FIRST FOODS are essential to who we are as a People and a lived expression of our interconnectedness and kinship with all of creation. Each food is a relative with whom we have a reciprocal, place‑specific, sacred binding responsibility. Growing and harvesting foods strengthens food security, health and cultural ties to the land. Through gardens, orchards and First Foods harvesting, youth secure food sovereignty and health rooted in our treaties. This vital work restores traditional diets, nourishes elders and families and equips young leaders to sustain the circle of life for generations.

  • CANOES CARRY US FORWARD

    These hands-on skills teach stewardship of treaty-protected waterways, ensuring the next generation paddles forward our responsibilities to the land and future kin. Canoe Ways is about the future. It builds confident, grounded young people who know who they are, where they come from and what they are responsible for. Crafting traditional canoes and paddles connects youth to rivers and ancestral waterways. Youth carve traditional canoes and paddles, forging bonds with ancestral rivers and waters central to Nimíipuu lifeways. Nimíipuu youth being part of canoes returning to our rivers makes our treaty rights visible and embodied in movements like our Free the Snake campaign, emphasizing that the river is a relative that must be cared for. Each canoe carries teachings forward - ensuring that Nimíipuu people continue to move with the river, uphold their obligations to the land and water and pass those responsibilities on to generations yet to come.

  • MAKE A DIFFERENCE

    We welcome knowledge keepers, leaders, teachers, artists, carvers, growers, storytellers and supporters of all kinds to help us cultivate something lasting. Your contribution matters. If you’d like to get involved, explore partnership opportunities, find ways to support the work or you’re ready to contribute your time, talents or resources to build a brighter future for youth and generations to come, we would love to hear from you.

POWER CHANGE
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We are growinG

MORE THAN FOOD

We are growing knowledge, confidence and community. Through hands-on education in gardening and orchard care, we empower youth and families in Lapwai to cultivate their own fresh fruits and vegetables while increasing access to nutritious food in rural Lapwai. What began as a partnership with the Lapwai Elementary After School Program is becoming a broader movement to strengthen food security and food sovereignty and a shared commitment to caring for the land in Nimíipuu communities. Access to fresh, healthy food should never be a barrier in our communities. As the program grows, so will its reach, expanding to serve communities across the reservation. 

This is a community-powered effort, and there is a place for everyone at the table. We welcome growers, teachers, artists, organizers, storytellers and supporters of all kinds to help us cultivate something lasting. Whether you bring gardening experience, cultural knowledge, technical skills or simply a willingness to help, your contribution matters. If you’d like to get involved, explore partnership opportunities, find ways to support the work or you’re ready to contribute your time, talents or resources to a growing movement for food security & sovereignty, we would love to hear from you.

LEARN MORE

JOIN US

  • A group of five people standing outdoors during dusk with trees and hills in the background. Two young girls are in the front, one with dark hair and the other with light brown hair, both smiling. Behind them, a young man with black hair and a black hoodie, and a smiling older man with grey hair wearing a black t-shirt with a ranching graphic and the text 'Kalispell Tribe Department of Agriculture.' The group appears happy, posing for a photo.

    VOLUNTEER

    We welcome knowledge keepers, leaders, teachers, artists, carvers, growers, storytellers and supporters of all kinds to help us cultivate something lasting. Your contribution matters. If you’d like to get involved, explore partnership opportunities, find ways to support the work or you’re ready to contribute your time, talents or resources to build a brighter future for youth and generations to come, we would love to hear from you.

    GET INVOLVED
  • Two children planting a small tree in a patch of soil, with grass and a black bucket nearby.

    NIMÍIPUU GROWN

    Nimíipuu Grown is a collaborative community garden and orchard initiative. We welcome contributors with diverse knowledge, skills and lived experience. Interested in getting involved, learning more or offering support? Reach out anytime. You are also welcome to visit the project in Lapwai. To schedule a visit or attend a weekly gathering, contact our Project Manager, Alexandra. Regular meetings are held Wednesday afternoons at the Nimiipuu Canoe Site in Lapwai on Bever Grade Road.

    REACH OUT
  • A woman and a young girl are smiling in an outdoor setting at dusk or early evening. There are colorful birdhouses hanging above and children in the background. The scene includes natural foliage and a wooden structure.

    STAY CONNECTED

    The Nimiipuu story is not only about the past. It’s about the future we are working to protect. What happens to the land, water, salmon and First Foods affects the future of Nimiipuu People and all people. From treaty rights to river restoration, first foods, cultural continuity and the shared future of this region - these issues shape whether our children and grandchildren can live as Nimiipuu. Learn more about issues that matter most to Nimiipuu People, our efforts, why these efforts matter to us and to the shared future of this region and how informed support helps carry these responsibilities forward.

    NEWSLETTER
  • Group of women and children outdoors, engaging in a cultural or ceremonial activity with one woman holding a baby, and others participating with focused expressions.

    STRONGER TOGETHER

    Support the future we’re responsible for - backing Nimíipuu youth, culture, foodways and land protection means standing up for what lasts - community, balance and responsibility. Protecting future generations means investing time and resources now. Your contributions , donations & volunteer support help protect treaty rights; restore rivers, salmon and first foods; care for all relations across our homelands; and sustain programs grounded in responsibility to land, water and future generations. We’re counting on all of you to stand with us to make a difference.

    MAKE A DIFFERENCE
  • A group of people standing on a wooden dock by a river, some with their hands raised, with trees and water in the background.

    PARTNER FOR IMPACT

    Join our camp to protect Mother Earth, sacred relatives and the future we are working to protect.

    We work alongside allied NGOs, Tribes and dedicated funders to host high-visibility gatherings, educational workshops, on-the-ground campaigns and initiatives. Have an idea? Tell us here.

    CONTACT US
Smiling boy with short dark hair in gray shirt standing outdoors, surrounded by children and adults.
A group of five people, three girls and two men, standing together outdoors during sunset. They are smiling and appear to be friends or family. One girl has short red hair, one girl has long dark hair, and another girl has long light brown hair. One
A young girl with long dark hair, smiling, wearing a black and white striped jacket and black gloves, is sitting outdoors on a log or a piece of wood, holding a saw, with a blurred natural background of trees and grass.
A young woman with long dark hair wearing a black jacket, jeans, a backpack, and gloves, planting a small green plant in the soil in an outdoor wooded area with trees and bushes.
A young girl with glasses smiling while holding a tablet, outdoors during daytime with trees and a wooden structure in background.
A person in a gray fleece jacket and black shoes crouches on the ground, touching soil and small green plants near a tree, with green grass and trees in the background.
A young girl in glasses and a patterned shirt is sawing a piece of wood outdoors, with other people and logs in the background.
Three people, a woman and two girls, smiling and hugging outdoors, with colorful birdhouses and gloves hanging on a line in the background.
Woman wearing a tropical-patterned shirt and lanyard working on a woodworking project outdoors with various tables, tools, and trees in the background.
A young boy with brown hair wearing a gray T-shirt with a pink Jordan logo, standing outside at sunset with birdhouses hanging above him and other children in the background.
Two children, one girl with dark hair and a boy wearing a blue hoodie, crouched on the ground outdoors, examining with their hands in the dirt, near some small plants.
Two girls, one with dark hair and one with red hair, smiling at the camera against a black background. They are sitting on wooden steps.
Young girl with dark hair wearing a light blue shirt, standing indoors with other children in the background.
People gathered outdoors during a gathering or event, seen through a large wooden canoe resting on a wooden platform, with trees and greenery in the background.
A young boy wearing gloves and a backpack is using a hammer and saw to work on a piece of wood outdoors during the evening, with trees visible in the background.
A woman with curly hair smiling while holding a young boy with a striped beanie hat and a blue jacket, both looking at the camera.
A group of people attending an outdoor gathering or meeting in a lush green park with trees and grass. They are sitting on chairs and standing around a table with food, listening to a person speaking.
A woman and a young girl smiling outdoors at dusk, with others in the background, and colorful birdhouse decorations hanging above.
Group of women and a baby participating in a ceremony outdoors during daytime, with trees and mountains in the background.
A group of diverse people, including children and adults, are outdoors near a lake on a sunny day. They are raising their fists in the air in a celebratory or rallying gesture. In the background, there are trees, hills, and a few houses.
Colorful fish illustrations are hanging on a string outdoors, with trees and people in the background.
A young girl in a purple jacket and teal pants leaning over the side of a canoe on a river, looking at the water, with houses and trees in the background.
A young girl with long hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a purple jacket and blue-green pants, sitting in a canoe on a body of water. She is holding a paddle and looking to the side.
People standing in a line outdoors on a grassy area with white chairs, trees, and small brick buildings in the background, some with dogs.
A young man with long dark hair standing with arms crossed at a gathering, with colorful birdhouses hanging on a rope behind him, during the evening.
Children and adults working on a woodworking project outdoors at sunset, wearing gloves and focused on their tasks.
Young girl with long brown hair holding a baseball bat, wearing yellow gloves and a hoodie, with a serious expression.
A family of four in a wooden canoe on a calm body of water, with a young girl in the front holding a paddle and a young boy sitting next to her, while two adults paddle at the back. The water has small ripples and orange buoys are floating in the bac
Various wooden paddles and oars with different shapes and sizes, some labeled with names, leaning against a wall painted light blue and a red corner on the right.
People in a wooden canoe paddling across a body of water with buoys floating nearby, and a residential neighborhood on a hill in the background.
A young boy with dark hair smiling while holding a piece of wood outdoors during dusk. Several other children are in the background, some wearing jackets, with leafless trees and a house behind them.
A young boy with curly blonde hair smiling at the camera while holding a wooden board, standing outdoors during dusk with other people in the background.
A young girl with dark hair holding a wooden piece, smiling, with other children and outdoor structures in the background during dusk.
A young girl with braided hair wearing a blue hoodie and yellow gloves is working on a wooden project outdoors during daytime, with trees in the background.
Group of children wearing gloves, standing outdoors under a wooden shelter with birdhouses hanging above, during daytime.
A young person with medium skin tone wearing a black head covering and light blue Nike hoodie, smiling slightly, standing outdoors with trees and a wooden structure in the background.
A smiling girl with glasses standing outdoors under a wooden structure with birdhouses hanging overhead. Several other people are in the background, some engaged in activities at a table.
A young girl with blonde hair in a ponytail wearing a pink hoodie with a denim strap over her shoulder, standing outdoors with a group of children in the background, some with dark hair and two wearing glasses, under a shelter with a wooden roof.
A young girl with dark hair smiling at the camera, wearing a green T-shirt and colorful beaded necklace, with other children in the background.
A woman with braided hair wearing a maroon top and a long yellow skirt with colorful stripes is speaking into a microphone outdoors, standing in front of a large tree. Four people stand behind her, including a man in a white shirt, two women in t-shi
A group of people standing outdoors near a large tree during a protest or rally. One woman is speaking into a microphone, and others are holding signs supporting environmental and social causes.
Two young women standing outdoors near a lake and trees, one holding a protest sign about saving salmon, with hills in the background.
Young man with brown hair wearing a purple hoodie, smiling gently, holding a gray object, amid a crowd with colorful hanging birdhouses in the background.
A girl with brown hair in a ponytail wearing a gray Nike hoodie and gloves is using a hammer on a piece of wood outdoors during daytime. Trees and a building with a roof are visible in the background.
A young girl wearing a black T-shirt with the word 'EYES' and a graphic of a lion on it, holding a sledgehammer and a crowbar, standing behind a wooden surface, against a black background, smiling gently with eyes looking down.
A young boy with dark hair, wearing a black jacket with red and white stripes, is working on a woodworking project at a workbench during an outdoor event at night. There is a bright light and other people around him.
Two people working together on woodworking in a dimly lit workshop or cabin. One person is an adult man and the other is a young girl. They are focused on a wooden project, surrounded by tools and supplies. Birdhouses are hanging in the background.
A young boy in a green hoodie working on a science experiment outdoors at night under low lighting, with safety gloves and a small platform, illuminated by a small light source.
A young girl with short dark hair smiling at the camera, wearing a white T-shirt with a logo and necklace, gloves, and holding a hammer, working outdoors under a shaded structure with trees visible in the background.
A young woman with dark hair, wearing a black jacket with red logo, standing in front of a wooden background.
A young girl with red hair and blue eyes standing in front of a wooden wall with a black painted horse head.
A young boy in an orange hoodie cutting wood with a handsaw outdoors during daytime, with another child sitting on a bench in the background.
A young woman in a red hoodie and yellow gloves woodworking outdoors during sunset, with stacked logs in the background.
A young boy in a blue jacket using a hand saw to cut a piece of wood at an outdoor gathering during the evening. In the background, people are gathered around tables, some looking at their phones, with trees and parked cars visible.
A young woman with long brown hair, freckles, and a nose piercing wearing a black Nike hoodie standing in front of a wooden background with graffiti.
A person with dyed red hair and facial piercings wearing a white Nirvana t-shirt, standing against a black background.
A woman with long black hair, piercings, and a cross necklace, wearing a black hoodie, standing indoors against a dark background.
Two young girls standing close together, reading from papers and speaking into a microphone in an indoor setting, possibly a school gym or auditorium.
Group of children woodworking outdoors in a yard with trees, working at saw horses and tables with wood pieces, a dog lying on the ground, and a parked vehicle in the background.
Children gathered outdoors, closely examining and interacting with a large turtle.
A person paddles a small wooden boat on a river with a rocky hillside in the background.
A young girl with long brown hair and yellow gloves holding a wooden paddle, standing in front of other children and adults under a pavilion.
A person in an orange shirt and pink headscarf sits in a wooden boat on a river, with steep, dry brown hills in the background and green shrubs near the riverbank.
Young girl with a bun hairstyle wearing a black T-shirt with a colorful graphic, working on a woodworking project outdoors, surrounded by other children and adults, with tools and supplies visible in the background.
A wooden boat on a trailer under a covered outdoor area, with a man in a blue shirt standing nearby. The area has trees, green rolling hills, and various objects and supplies on tables and the ground.
A woman in an orange hoodie working on a wooden project at an outdoor night event, with several other people in the background under canopy tents.
A young girl with colorful pom-pom headband and patterned jacket working on a woodworking project outdoors at night, lit by nearby lights, with trees and vehicles in the background.
A young boy wearing a black jacket with red and white stripes, focused on working on a wooden project outdoors at night. The scene is illuminated by a bright light, with woodworking tools and wood shavings around.
A young girl wearing gloves and a black jacket is sawing a piece of wood outdoors during dusk. Two other people are in the background, one on the left wearing a hoodie and gloves, and another on the right at a table with tools, all under a wooden she
Child painting on a large white cloth with colorful paints, surrounded by art supplies on a table.
Three children standing outdoors during dusk, smiling at the camera, with a girl in a white and red Nike sweatshirt on the left, a girl in a black Nike sweatshirt in the middle, and a boy in a red and white jacket on the right.
Child's drawing of a dinosaur painted with red, green, and orange colors on white paper placed on a wooden surface.
A young boy wearing a winter jacket and gloves, focusing on a task in an outdoor setting during evening or dusk, with other people partially visible around him.
People gathered outdoors around a long wooden structure, possibly making crafts or working on a project, with a scenic green hill and trees in the background during daylight.
A man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a white t-shirt with a graphic design, stands outdoors with his hands clasped, near a tree. There are blurred cars and greenery in the background.
A group of young people attending an outdoor educational event at a garden or farm. Two women are standing and speaking at a table with a banner, while several others are seated or standing around, listening. The setting includes plants, trees, and a
Close-up of a person with long black hair and wearing a pink shirt, bending down among green tomato plants, with another person in a red and black shirt in the background in a garden or farm setting.
A smiling woman stands behind a table with environmental protection information and merchandise, under a black shade cloth in a garden. Two dogs are resting on a blanket in front of the table. Potted plants and signs are visible around the area.
Group of people walking along a lakeside with hills and houses in the background, led by an older woman wearing a patterned vest and a colorful hat.
Group of people, including children and adults, gathered outdoors near a lake, engaging in a group activity with raised fists, on a sunny day with mountains and trees in the background.
A person wearing a purple jacket touches the eye painted on a black wooden or carved statue, which has white and black colors for the eye, with a background of out-of-focus individuals and some circus or festival lights.
Child planting a seedling in soil, with gardening gloves nearby and dirt patch surrounded by grass
Two children planting small plants in a garden bed, surrounded by greenery.
A person with long brown hair, wearing a black jacket and white gloves, planting a small tree in the soil outdoors.
A young person with glasses and black hair with blonde streaks, sitting at a table outdoors, drawing with colored markers on paper, with green grass and trees in the background.
Colorful whale drawings hanging on a line outdoors with trees and sunlight in the background.
Group of children painting outdoors at a table, with paint palettes and brushes, during a sunny day.
Group of four people, two adults and two children, paddling a wooden canoe on a body of water, with trees reflected in the water.
A young woman with long red hair and a man with a beard and light-colored cap standing indoors in front of a string of small colorful birdhouses.
Two children wearing life jackets sit in a wooden canoe on a body of water, one holding a paddle.