Tunnachemootoolt (Broken Arm)
Tunnachemootoolt, known as Broken Arm, was a prominent Nez Perce chief who hosted the Lewis and Clark Expedition during their extended stay among the Nez Perce in May–June 1806 while waiting for the Bitterroot Mountain snows to melt. His village near present-day Kamiah, Idaho, served as the expedition's base camp, and he provided food, horses, and counsel about the mountain crossing. Broken Arm was one of the key Nez Perce leaders who helped ensure the expedition's safe passage through their territory.
Biography
Tunnachemootoolt, known to the expedition as “Broken Arm,” was a principal chief of the Nez Perce who hosted the Corps of Discovery during their extended stay in the Clearwater region in May-June 1806.
Broken Arm was a significant leader whose support was crucial during the expedition’s month-long wait for mountain snows to melt before recrossing the Bitterroots. He provided food, lodging, and counsel, and participated in diplomatic councils where the captains outlined American intentions in the region.
The expedition’s extended stay with the Nez Perce — longer than with any other people except the Mandan — produced detailed ethnographic observations about Nez Perce culture, governance, and daily life that remain valuable to historians and tribal members today.
