A Great Native American, A Great Leader, A Great Man
- Notes From The Frontier
- May 3
- 4 min read
I AM PROFOUNDLY SAD T0 ANNOUNCE THAT NEZ PERCE CHIEF & CHAIR OF THE TRIBE,
ALLEN V. PINKHAM, SR. HAS DIED
Knowing and working with Allen V. Pinkham, Sr., was one of the greatest honors of my life. When I was researching my debut novel, Blood to Rubies, I reached out to the Nez Perce tribe to ask for assistance in vetting my novel, since a major theme of my book was about the Nez Perce War of 1877 and Chief Joseph's heroic struggle to save his people. I had exhaustively researched my book for years and wanted to assure its historical accuracy and fidelity not only to the truth but to the legacy of the Nez Perce tribe and Chief Joseph.
I was incredibly honored that Allen agreed to work with me to vet my book. I sent him my manuscript and together on the phone, we talked about every page of the book that dealt with the narrative about Chief Joseph, the Nez Perce tribe and their history. This was simply a miracle! I soon discovered that Allen had not only been the Chairman and leader of the Nez Perce tribe for more than a decade, he was also a descendant of Chief Joseph!
What followed was several years and many, many hours of reviewing my book, talking about his ancestors and the traditions of the Nez Perce and recording more than 25 hours of interviews with him. It very quickly became obvious to me that I was not only talking to a genius (whom I believed had a photographic memory), but a Native American icon and worthy ancestor of Chief Joseph. Allen not only shared with me so generously his time and amazing knowledge, he wrote the FOREWORD for my book.
I found out last week from the Executive Director of the Chief Joseph Foundation that Allen had passed away. He was 87 years old. He was so vibrant and his mind so sharp, I thought he would live forever. It was my profound hope that he would live at least until 2027 and the 150th anniversary of the Nez Perce War and Chief Joseph's last battle at the Bear Paw in northern Montana. It was not to be.
I was crushed to hear that Allen had passed, but then strangely touched to learn he had died on my birthday. The world has lost a great man, the country has lost a great scholar and historian, and the Nez Perce tribe has lost a torch of tribal knowledge and a magnificent human depository of their culture and traditions. And I lost a great friend and mentor.
Qe'ciyew'yew', Páaxat Háykatin. May your light shine on in your people.
A few highlights of Allen V. PInkham, Sr.'s greatest accomplishments.
He was truly a worthy descendant of Chief Joseph.
1. Descendant of Chief Joseph and also Chief Bloody Bear, one of the Nez Perce chiefs who saved Lewis and Clark and their expedition from freezing and starving to death in the Bitterroot Mountains in 1805.
2. Descendant of a long line of warriors who not only fought against the U.S. Cavalry but then became great American warriors in World War I and World War II. Allen continued his tribal military tradition, joining the Marines to become a Corporal.
3. Allen became a tribal leader and scholar, becoming Nez Perce tribal chair for more than a decade and guiding his tribe through myriad challenges including land rights issues, environmental battles, cultural reclamation and education, including beginning to teach their Nimiipuu language again, founding health, education, and social initiatives for his people.
4. Allen served as the founding member of the board of directors for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, which has become a national treasure and flagship for tribal representation in our country and the world.
5. Allen founded the Chief Joseph Foundation, now in its 35th year, which has mentored thousands of Nez Perce youth to become first generation college and trade school students, as well as teaching youth tribal ways and traditions through their horse culture and work with Appaloosas, the horse breed founded by the Nez Perce.
6. Allen was an internationally renowned tribal scholar and author who wrote many articles, carried on the oral story telling tradition of his people and co-authored the seminal book, Lewis and Clark Among the Nez Perce.
7. Allen served on several U.S. Presidential Committees for the Lewis and Clark Bi-Centennial, land rights issues, endangered species protections, environmental issues, forestry management, and reclamation of land, salmon fisheries and rivers.
8. Allen mentored his own children and many Nez Perce youth to carry on his sacred tribal knowledge for generations to come. He was an indefatigable champion of his people, as was his esteemed ancestor Chief Joseph.
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