White Bird and the nimíipuu refugees who reached Canada crossed this line in October 1877 and found their way to the camp where Sitting Bull’s Lakota were living.

James Walsh, the North-West Mounted Police Superintendent who had established a working relationship with Sitting Bull, met with the nimíipuu refugees on October 22, 1877.

The meeting took place in the center of Sitting Bull’s Sioux camp.

Walsh counted 290 Nez Perce refugees: 90 men and 200 women and children.

White Bird spoke for his people.

He described what the nimíipuu had endured across more than 1,170 miles.

He recounted the broken promises, the forced move, the attacks on peaceful camps, the relentless pursuit.