Wah-nik-noote, Nez Perce - 1899

This view of Wah-nik-noote is one of two captured by Seattle photographer Frank La Roche in 1899. The other, a profile view apparently taken in the same session, is in the University of Washington library. We don't know much about Wah-nik-noote. We do know that Frank La Roche, who worked as a photographer from 1890 till 1928, specialized in scenic and industrial views, but also took many high-quality studio portraits, including a number of Native Americans. Traveling to Alaska on many occasions, he produced a six-part album titled "Enroute to the Klondike". -- This photo is restored and printed by Old Oregon.