Nez Perce: Promises tells the story of the Nez Perce after the departure of Lewis and Clark and the impact that the white man had on their people. But the larger story, the story that is important today for all of us, is about the promise – the promise of protection to the land and to all of its creatures that the Nimiipuu made and always kept.

In 2005, Caritas Chorale commissioned and performed Immence (sic) Ranges of High Mountains in commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Bi-centennial. As Diane Josephy Peavey, the librettist, David Alan Earnest, the composer, and I were researching the project, we realized that there was much more to the story. We knew then that there had to be a sequel. In 2011, Caritas Chorale commissioned this new work and has chosen to give it as a gift to the Nez Perce tribe, who call themselves the Nimiipuu.

From the music..

Without your eyes the land is obscured.
Without your ears the song is faint.
Without your courage we stray.
Without your insights the world tips out of balance
And we may never fully know who we are…why we are here.

We are proud to be presenting this piece to you and to the people who have always held this vision and share it with us.
Dick Brown, Artistic Director