Sam Morris (Sik'em Ciicqaanin, Horse Blanket, 1861-1944) was born in Lapwai, central Idaho. He was known among his people as a leader in Nez Perce ritual life, holding traditional religious, ceremonial, and social events at his home. Most importantly, Morris documented these rituals and their associated songs and chants with his own Edison recording machine. On the wax cylinders, created between 1897 and 1909, Morris preserved for future generations, as well as for anthropological study, the rapidly disappearing oral traditions of the Nez Perce. He also included introductory comments for many of the recordings, describing their relevance in Nez Perce culture. Some of the recordings include the Owl Dance or Round Dance, Fast War Dance, Honor Dance, Victory Song and Women's Dance or Social Dance. The significance of these recordings cannot be overestimated. In 1995, restoration was completed on the recordings by Ethnomusicologist Loran Olsen who worked with the Library of Congress and the Washington State University Library, on the project.
The Feather Religion was revitalization movement of the Pacific Northwest. It drew on elements of both the earlier Indian Shaker Religion and the Waashat Religion. The religion was founded in 1904 by Jake Hunt, a Klickitat shaman. It is also referred to as the Feather Dance or the Spinning Religion. Sacred eagle feathers were used in ceremonies, one of which involved ritual spinning, hence the name Waskliki for Spinning Religion.