Nez Perce Tribe

What Nez Perce Tribe does

The Nez Perce Tribe is a federally recognized sovereign tribal nation headquartered in Lapwai, Idaho, with origins traceable to the 1855 Treaty and a current enrolled citizenry of more than 3,500 members. The Tribe functions as a sovereign government providing healthcare (Nimiipuu Health), social services, education, law and justice, housing, transit (Appaloosa Express), and natural resources management. Its largest single programmatic unit, the Department of Fisheries Resources Management (DFRM), operates an annual budget exceeding $30 million and is nationally recognized for salmon and steelhead restoration, producing roughly 30% of juvenile hatchery fish released in the Snake Basin and managing hatchery complexes at Orofino and in partnership with Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Commercially, the Tribe operates Nez Perce Tribal Enterprises (NPTE), a wholly owned holding structure encompassing Clearwater River Casino & Lodge, It'se Ye Ye Casino, Nez Perce Express and Camas Express convenience stores, and Zims Hot Springs (acquired 2019). Additional revenue and program lines include the USDA-approved Nez Perce Hemp program, Nimiipuu Energy (virtual power plant initiatives), the Itam'yanáawit Small Business Department (BuyNezPerce), and the Tribal Member Dashboard portal. Revenue mechanics are hybrid: federal grants and Indian Self-Determination Act contracts fund government services, while tribal enterprises generate transaction-based revenue at market pricing (gaming, retail, hot springs admissions), supplemented by modest transactional streams from transit fares ($1-$2/boarding) and Tunnel Pond fishing permits ($5-$30).

The Tribe operates across a regional footprint spanning north-central Idaho, northeastern Oregon, and southeastern Washington, with operational offices in Lapwai, Orofino, Lewiston, Kamiah, New Meadows, and Joseph, OR. Leadership is provided by the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee (NPTEC); in 2025 the Tribe transitioned executive leadership with the appointment of Danae Wilson as Interim Executive Director and Joseph Y. Oatman as DFRM Manager, while Chairman Shannon F. Wheeler has actively engaged federal advocacy on salmon recovery and dam policy.

Name

Nez Perce Tribe

Legal name

Nez Perce Tribe

Website

https://nezperce.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1855

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Nez Perce Tribe is a federally recognized sovereign tribal nation headquartered in Lapwai, Idaho, operating government services (healthcare, education, transit, housing) for more than 3,500 enrolled citizens alongside tribally owned gaming, hospitality, retail, fisheries, hemp, and energy enterprises across the Columbia River Basin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tribal Government Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (92115), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal/First Nations Casino Operations (MPAEAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tribal/Indigenous Casino Hotels (THAGAJAE), Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Tribal government services
• Fisheries resources management
• Tribal healthcare services
• Tribal gaming hospitality
• Rural public transit

Headquarters

HQ city

Lapwai

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants and Self-Determination Act Funding: The tribe operates under Indian Self-Determination Act contracts receiving federal funding for healthcare (IHS), education, natural resources, and tribal government operations
2. Tribal Enterprises Revenue: Revenue from tribally-owned businesses including Clearwater River Casino & Lodge, It'se Ye Ye Casino, Nez Perce Express convenience stores, Camas Express, and Zims Hot Springs
3. Fisheries Program: DFRM annual budget exceeding $30 million funding fisheries restoration, hatchery operations, and salmon recovery programs
4. Transit System Fares: Public transit fares including $1-2 per boarding fees and monthly passes generating revenue for Appaloosa Express transit operations
5. Fishing Permits: Sale of fishing permits for Tunnel Pond: $5 single day, $25 Idaho resident annual, $30 non-resident annual permits

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Nez Perce Tribe operates a sovereign tribal government providing comprehensive services to enrolled members including healthcare through Nimiipuu Health, social services, education, housing, law and justice, and natural resources management. It also operates commercial tribal enterprises including Clearwater River Casino & Lodge, It'se Ye Ye Casino, convenience stores, Zims Hot Springs, and the Department of Fisheries Resources Management—one of the largest tribal fisheries programs in the United States with a budget exceeding $30 million.

Product overview

The Nez Perce Tribe operates a diverse portfolio of governmental services and commercial enterprises. Tribal Enterprises (NPTE) manages commercial operations including gaming facilities (Clearwater River Casino & Lodge, It'se Ye Ye Casino) and retail (Nez Perce Express, Camas Express convenience stores). The Tribe provides essential government services including fisheries management (DFRM), healthcare (Nimiipuu Health), transit (Appaloosa Express), housing, and workforce development (TERO Youth Apprenticeship). Cultural and recreational assets include Tunnel Pond fishing facility, Zims Hot Springs, and the Tribal Member Dashboard portal. The Tribe also operates a hemp program and manages extensive salmon restoration efforts through hatcheries and watershed restoration projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nimiipuu Health: Healthcare services for tribal members and community
• Appaloosa Express
• Nimiipuu Energy
• Nez Perce Hemp
• WETXUUWÍITIN Collection
• BuyNezPerce

Products and services

• Nez Perce Tribal Enterprises (NPTE) Parent organization that oversees the Nez Perce Tribe's commercial business operations including gaming, hospitality, and retail enterprises. Manages Clearwater River Casino & Lodge, It'se Ye Ye Casino, Nez Perce Express, and Camas Express.
• Clearwater River Casino & Lodge Tribal casino and lodge in Lewiston, Idaho offering gaming entertainment and hospitality services to casino guests and regional visitors.
• It'se Ye Ye Casino Tribal gaming facility operated by Nez Perce Tribal Enterprises offering casino gaming to general public visitors.
• Nez Perce Express Tribal convenience store and gas station operated by Nez Perce Tribal Enterprises, serving the regional community.
• Camas Express Tribal convenience store operated by Nez Perce Tribal Enterprises, serving the regional community.
• Appaloosa Express Transit System Fixed-route and on-demand public transit system with para-transit services for seniors 55+ and individuals with disabilities, covering routes across Lapwai, Culdesac, Lewiston, Orofino, Kooskia, and Kamiah with fares from $1-$2 per boarding and monthly passes available.
• Zims Hot Springs Natural hot springs resort near New Meadows, Idaho featuring outdoor pools, lodge accommodations, RV park, and campsites for recreational visitors and tourists.
• Nimiipuu Health Tribal healthcare facility providing medical, dental, and behavioral health services to Nez Perce Tribal members and descendants, with clinic locations in Lapwai and Kamiah.
• Department of Fisheries Resources Management (DFRM) Comprehensive tribal fisheries program managing hatcheries, watershed restoration, salmon and steelhead propagation, kelt reconditioning, and treaty-protected fishing rights management across the Columbia Basin. Releases 12 million juvenile salmon and steelhead annually.
• Tunnel Pond Tribal trout fishing pond near Orofino, Idaho open to the public for sport fishing, family recreation, and outdoor activities with permits sold online through nptfishpermits.com.
• Tribal Member Dashboard Online portal providing tribal members access to government services, resources, news, and member-only features through secure registration.
• Nez Perce Hemp Program Tribal hemp cultivation and processing program with USDA-approved regulatory framework governing hemp production within the Nez Perce Reservation.
• TERO Youth Apprenticeship Program Youth apprenticeship program in partnership with Baker Technical Institute providing five-week heavy highway construction trades academy with certifications including heavy equipment operation, Hazmat first responder, flagging card, and OSHA 10 for construction, for tribal youth ages 16-24.
• Nez Perce Tribe Housing Authority Tribal housing authority providing affordable housing programs, rental assistance, and housing services for Nez Perce tribal members.
• Nimiipuu Energy Tribal energy initiative developing virtual power plant projects and clean energy programs within the Nez Perce Reservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Snake River fall Chinook returns increased from 300 to 80,000
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• United Methodist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2025Land return celebration recognizing transfer of historic Lapwai United Methodist Church property to the Tribe. Church was established in 1910 and building constructed in 1920s. Property now serves as home for opioid response and emergency response to wildfires.
• Idaho Department of Fish and GamecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2025Co-management of Clearwater Fish Hatchery and Dworshak National Fish Hatchery. Joint operations for salmon and steelhead propagation under Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP). Partnership for hydraulic fluid leak response in 2025.
• Northwest Radon CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2025Multi-tribal and governmental coalition sponsoring Northwest Radon Poster Contest to raise awareness about radon dangers. Includes Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Health & Welfare, Oregon Health Authority, Spokane Tribe of Indians, and Washington State Department of Health.
• Prairie River Library DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 January 2025Partnership to provide free radon test kits to the public during January and February at nine public libraries on the Nez Perce Reservation. Includes lab analysis with $19 value per kit.
• Clearwater Memorial Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 January 2025Partnership to provide free radon test kits to the public. Part of air quality program addressing radon exposure risks in tribal communities.
• State of WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2024Partner in Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (CBRI) and Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement (RCBA) with Yakama, Umatilla, and Warm Springs Tribes (Six Sovereigns). Commitment to salmon recovery and honoring Treaty rights.
• State of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2024Partner in Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (CBRI) with Washington, Yakama, Umatilla, and Warm Springs Tribes. Commitment to salmon recovery and addressing dam impacts on tribal resources.
• Baker Technical InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2024Partnership for TERO Youth Apprenticeship Program providing five-week heavy highway construction trades academy. Program equips 16-24 year old participants with certifications including heavy equipment operation, Hazmat first responder, flagging card, OSHA 10, and more. Creates sustainable career pathways for tribal youth.
• Wallowa Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2024Collaborative partnership for land conservation and the annual Wallowa Gathering. Wallowa Land Trust hired Indigenous Community Liaison position to support conservation work rooted in respect, relationship, and responsibility to place.
• Columbia River Inter-tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 July 2024Consortium with Umatilla, Yakama, and Warm Springs Tribes working together on Columbia Basin salmon recovery and hatchery infrastructure improvements. Nez Perce Tribe produces about 30% of juvenile hatchery fish released in the Snake Basin.
• Swift Water FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2022Year-long documentary project 'Covenant of the Salmon People' telling the story of the Tribe's connection to salmon. Film reached international audience at Fluss Film Festival-Berlin in 2025.
• Idaho Department of Health and WelfarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2019Title IV-E agreement signed in 2019 granting Tribe eligibility under Social Security Act for foster care, transitional independent living programs, guardianship assistance, and adoption assistance for children with special needs.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2018Partnership for Tunnel Pond management, ICIO Inmate Family Fishing Day, and hatchery operations. Co-management of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery. Kids Fishing Day and Veterans Fishing Day events.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chickasaw Nation: One of the largest diversified tribal nations in the U.S., operating extensive gaming, hospitality, healthcare, and government services. Serves as a benchmark for sovereign nation enterprise scale and breadth.
• Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma: Major federally recognized tribe with comparable diversified enterprise mix including gaming, hospitality, healthcare (Choctaw Nation Health Services), and federal contracting exposure via Self-Determination contracts.

Direct peers

• Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation: CRITFC member and Six Sovereign signatory. Shares salmon recovery, treaty rights advocacy, and gaming operations structure highly comparable to the Nez Perce's portfolio.
• Coeur d'Alene Tribe: Idaho-based federally recognized tribe operating gaming enterprises and government services. Joint partner with Nez Perce on the Northwest Radon Coalition and shares overlapping regional environmental, health, and fisheries priorities in north-central Idaho.
• Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation: Co-founding CRITFC member and Six Sovereign signatory alongside Nez Perce on the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative. Operates comparable fisheries, gaming, government services, and treaty-protected natural resource programs across the Columbia Basin.
• Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation: Regionally adjacent tribal nation operating multiple gaming facilities, convenience stores, and government services with significant fisheries and natural resource management programs. Comparable enterprise diversification model.
• Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs: CRITFC member and Six Sovereign partner. Operates comparable government service mix including gaming (Indian Head Casino), fisheries management, and natural resource restoration in Oregon.

Regional players

• Shoshone-Bannock Tribes: Idaho-based federally recognized tribe operating gaming (Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel), government services, and natural resource management. Closest geographic peer in the Idaho market.
• Poarch Band of Creek Indians: Tribal nation with multiple gaming properties (Wind Creek Hospitality), convenience stores, and government services. Comparable enterprise-holding structure across hospitality and retail verticals.
• Morongo Band of Mission Indians: Tribal gaming and resort operator (Morongo Casino Resort & Spa) with comparable hospitality, retail, and tribal government service mix. Peer benchmark for large-scale tribal casino-resort operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NezPerce_Tribe
• Facebookfacebook.com/NPT1855
• Instagraminstagram.com/nezpercetribe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nez-perce-tribe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nez Perce Tribe