The Nez Perce wore buckskin clothing. Buckskin is another word for deerskin. Men and boys liked long, fringed skirts and leggings. They wore belts, breedcloths, and moccasins. The women and girls wore long, belted buckskin dresses. They wore cornhusk hats on their heads and knee-length moccasins on their feet. Sometimes the people put on gloves and buffalo skin robes to keep warm in the winter.
The Nez Perce hunted and fished for their food. The men hunted big game such as deer, elk, moose, bear, mountain sheep, and goat. The men used Appaloosa horses to hunt buffalo and antelope. Boys were taught to hunt rabbit, squirrel, badger, and marmot. The men and boys fished for salmon. The women and girls gathered roots. Their favorite roots to eat were the camas bulb and bitteroot. They collected pine nuts, seeds, and black moss. The girls liked to gather all kinds of berries. During the winter, the people spent time drying and storing all the food.
The Nez Perce lived in different kinds of homes. Most of the year, they lived in the tipis made of woven tule mats are buffalo skins. Tule is a plant that grows near rivers. The Nez Perce could take their shelter with them as they looked for food. They lived in longhouses in the winter. The longhouse was over 100 feet long and was made of poles and tule mats. Several families lived together in a longhouse. They also had an underground hot bath and sweathouse for ceremonies near the longhouse.
The Nez Perce lived in villages along streams and rivers. Several related families lived together in one village. Men did the hunting, using bows and arrows. Men trained spotted horses called Appaloosas. Men and boys played sports games. The men told stories to the children. The women taught girls cooking, weaving, and basketry. They made beautiful cornhusk bags. Everyone in the village enjoyed ceremonies. They danced and chanted to music made frm rattles, drums, and flutes.