The Nespelem people belong to one of twelve aboriginal Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation in eastern Washington.

The Nespelem are considered Interior Salish, a designation that also includes the Okanagan, Sinixt, Wenatchi, Sanpoil, Spokan, Kalispel, Pend d'Oreilles, Coeur d'Alene, and Flathead peoples.

In the Upper Columbia he mentions the Inspaelis [sic], being the Nespelem tribe,[4] who warmly welcomed him and his party.

[5] Thompson mentions in his journal that the Nespelem wore shells as dress ornaments,[5] and made their clothing from buffalo robes, and from skins of muskrat and black tailed deer, when they could be found; otherwise, they were scantly dressed.

Whenever sending off a party, members of the tribe (men, women and children) would come together, and after being entreated by their Chief to dance before the party, they would commence a solemn dance for several minutes by throwing their arms into the air, and clapping them in the air, before they lowered them.