“Nez Perce Woman and Travois – September 20, 1805” by Richard Vernon Greeves is a moving bronze sculpture that honors the strength and practicality of Indigenous women during one of the most crucial encounters of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The date marks the historic meeting with the Nez Perce tribe, whose generosity and guidance proved pivotal to the expedition’s survival.

Greeves centers the woman—not as a background figure—but as a symbol of resilience and essential infrastructure. She is shown walking, firm in her stride, guiding a loaded travois pulled by a dog. Every detail—from her layered garments to her staff and composed gaze—signals competence, tradition, and balance. The travois, used to transport belongings, becomes a metaphor for generational weight and cultural endurance.

This sculpture elevates everyday labor into monument. It challenges the viewer to recognize the often-unseen backbone of tribal life: the women who led quietly, worked constantly, and shaped history without demand for credit.