The Nimiipuu, commonly called Nez Perce, lived across a broad homeland in what became Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. An 1855 treaty reserved millions of acres, but gold discoveries brought settlers and federal pressure for a drastically smaller reservation. A disputed 1863 agreement, which many bands never signed, became known among them as the thief treaty. In 1877 the United States ordered non-treaty bands to relocate. Violence by several young men and military pursuit drew roughly eight hundred Nimiipuu—many women, children, and elders—into flight.

The group crossed mountains toward Montana while seeking safety and possible alliance. At Big Hole they camped beside the river, believing they had gained distance from pursuing soldiers. Before dawn on 9 August, troops and civilian volunteers under Colonel John Gibbon approached and attacked. Soldiers entered the sleeping camp, shooting into lodges; Nimiipuu fighters reorganized, drove them back, and besieged their position. The fighting continued into 10 August. Precise casualty figures vary, but dozens of Nimiipuu, including many women and children, and about thirty soldiers and volunteers died.

Survivors buried some dead, gathered families and horses, and continued an arduous movement of more than a thousand miles. They fought or evaded other forces before Colonel Nelson Miles intercepted them near Bear Paw in October. Chief Joseph's famous surrender speech was filtered through translation and later reporting; it should not obscure leaders such as Looking Glass, White Bird, Lean Elk, and women who protected children and sustained the group. White Bird and others reached Canada, while many captives were exiled far from their homeland despite promises.

Commemoration began from competing perspectives. The United States established a military monument in 1883, and Congress created a protected battlefield in 1910. Roads, markers, visitor facilities, and altered vegetation shaped later understanding. Archaeological study has identified fighting positions and material evidence, but the open meadow, river, slopes, and lodge-site area remain the primary resources. There are no surviving 1877 buildings to restore. Tipi poles, interpretive markers, trails, and exhibits are modern devices placed within genuine terrain where the attack and defense occurred.

The National Park Service manages Big Hole National Battlefield in partnership and consultation with the Nez Perce Tribe as part of the wider Nez Perce National Historical Park. The visitor center and trails are generally free, subject to seasonal hours, weather, and respectful-use requirements. Tribal commemorations emphasize mourning, resilience, and continuing identity rather than celebrating a tactical encounter. Preservation protects landscape and archaeological evidence while interpretation names the coercive removal that caused the battle. Big Hole is a memorial place, not a reconstructed military scene or neutral ground between equivalent government and refugee movements.