Battle of Canyon Creek (Nimíipuu win)

During the Nimíipuu long journey away from their homelands to avoid forced imprisonment on reservations, this battle was fought shortly after the Nez Perce successful exited Yellowstone National Park, despite being completely surrounded by US Army troops. Specifically, they had fooled Samuel Sturgis and his command of the 7th Cavalry into abandoning the trap they laid at the Clark Fork River, to go south to the Shoshone River. The Nez Perce then doubled back to the Clark Fork via a steep pass and slipped passed the 7th Cavalry to the plains. Sturgis and the 7th Cavalry we deeply embarrassed at letting them escape. At the point the flight of the Nez Perce was a highly publicized affair with many laughing at the Army's incompetence and cheering on the righteous campaign of the Nimíipuu. Additionally, this was only one year after the 7th Cavalry's defeat at the Battle of Greasy Grass (Little Bighorn) where Custer famously was killed but also Sturgis' son had died.

Hoping to make up for his embarrasment and regain respect for the 7th Cavalry, Sturgis urged his troops to pursue the Nimíipuu. They caught up to them along the Yellowstone River near a steep canyon which led up to the plains. Outnumbering the Nimíipuu more than 2 to 1, the 7th Cavalry was also not traveling with their women, children, and elderly. They engaged the warriors, hoping to head them off before they reached the canyon. The Nimíipuu staged a brave response, holding off the cavalry from strategic points and allowing their people to escape into the steep canyon and the plains above. According to Himiin Maaqs maqs (Yellow Wolf), a single Nimíipuu warrior named Teeto Hoonod, held up the advance for a crucial ten minutes, firing 40 well-aimed shots at the cavalry from behind a rock. US Army losses were 4 killed and 11 wounded, while the Nimíipuu lost horses to Crow scouts and had 3 wounded. Importantly they were able to continue their flight northward.