Weweetsa (Log) by Mario Rabago

Nez Perce artist. Acrylic on board; 16" x 20". Weweetsa was wounded at Big Hole, Montana. He was struck by a bullet in the collar bone. Afte the Battle of Big Hole he left for the Flathead Reservation. He was later killed by the Flatheads in a quarrel. Mario Rabago - Self taught, he lived on the Nez Perce Reservation at Lapawai, Idaho most of his life. He learned the stories of the Nez Perce direct from the "old men" at the sweat house, "the Nez Perce are my best friends. . .The only thing I paint are Indians and historical events always related to the US Army and the Indians which I know very well and try to be accurate. If I had to choose somebody who influenced me, I'd have to say Ace Powell. Although I use acrylics for my backgrounds which are simple because I like to go directly to the subject…"