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The Wind River Reservation, named after the scenic Wind River Canyon, is the only Indian Reservation in Wyoming. This area includes portions of Fremont, Hot Springs, and Sublette counties with 99.5 percent of the Indian people residing in Fremont County. The Arapaho-St. Stephens area of the reservation covers approximately 50 square miles and lies southwest of the town of Riverton and 28 miles east of Fort Washakie. The total land area of the Eastern Shoshone reservation is 2,268000 acres with 1,701,795 acres tribally owned and 101,149 acres individually owned. The land is an integral part of the Arapaho culture and the economic base of the reservation.
The reservation was originally established by the Fort Bridger Treaty of July 2, 1863, and included 44,672,000 acres in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. This area was reduced to 3,054,182 by the second Fort Bridger Treaty of July 3, 1868. The Brunot Agreement, dated September 26, 1872, ceded 710,642 acres from the southern border of the reservation to the United States. In 1957, the Shoshones received $443,013 for the land lost under this agreement. The McLaughlin Agreement of April 2, 1898, transferred 55,040 acres from the northeast corner of the reservation to the United States. The second McLaughlin Agreement, April 21, 1904, ceded 1,480,000 acres to the United States for homestead purposes and the Riverton Reclamation Withdrawal that covered 325,000 acres. In 1938, the Shoshones restored to the reservation the land alienated under the second McLaughlin Agreement. These lands, with the exception of the Riverton Reclamation Withdrawal, now belong to the reservation. Through these transactions, the reservation has been gradually reduced to its present size. 
The reservation is now the home of 2 Tribes, the Eastern Band of the Shoshones and the Northern Band of the Arapaho. The Shoshones are original inhabitants of the reservation, which was established solely for that purpose. In 1878, the Arapahos were settled on the reservation when they were in need of a winter home. The Shoshones were rewarded $4,453,000 in 1938 for the eastern half of the reservation occupied by the Arapahos and used part of this settlement to restore to the reservation the land mentioned above. The Shoshone Tribal members principally occupy the western areas of the reservation including Fort Washakie, Crowheart, Burris, and the Dry Creek Ranch area. The Arapaho Tribe principally occupies the eastern segments of the reservation of Ethete and Arapaho.
Eastern Shoshone (Shoshoni) TribeThe Wind River Indian Reservation was established for the Eastern Shoshone Indians in 1868. Camp Auger, a military post with troops was established at the present site of Lander on June 28, 1869. In 1870 the name was changed to Camp Brown and in 1871 the post was moved to the current site of Fort Washakie. The nickname was changed to honor The Shoshone chief in 1878 and continued to serve as the military post - Fort Washakie - until its abandonment in 1909.Reverend John Roberts came to the reservation in 1883 and started an Episcopal Mission near Fort Washakie. He later constructed a school for the Shoshone girls and remained to minister to the people for 60 years until his death in 1949. 
Several buildings from the fort remain, including stone calvary barns, a block house dating 1869 and several other early structures. Chief Washakie died in 1900 and was given a military funeral and buried at the post cemetery near the fort. A government school and hospital functioned for many years east of Fort Washakie and children were sent here to board during the school year. St. Michael's at Ethete was constructed in 1917-20.
The Eastern Shoshone have a rich culture to teach their children the history, language and values of their ancestors. Sacajawea Sacajawea, the wife of Charbonneau, who helped guide the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific in 1803-06, is believed to have returned to her people, the Shoshones, after many years of being away sometime in the 1850's. She lived with the band where her son Baptiste and nephew Basil were sub-chiefs and came to the reservation with them in 1871. She was known as Porivo or Lost Woman. She died at nearly 100 years of age in 1884 and was buried in what is now called Sacajawea Cemetery near Fort Washakie. Eastern Shoshone Tribal Government The government of the Eastern Shoshone tribe is many ways a pure democracy: the chief governing body is the General Council, which consists of all adult enrolled members of the tribe. The day-to-day affairs of the tribe are overseen by the elected Business Council. The Shoshone Business Council also meets jointly with Arapaho elected officials as the Joint Business Council to decide matters which affect both of the tribes. Under the tribe's Law and Order Code, the Wind River Tribal Court handles civil and some criminal matters arising on the reservation. Blending traditional Indian Justice and jurisprudence, the court emphasizes mediation and settlement, rather then punitive outcomes, and its decisions are respected by federal and Wyoming state courts. Crowheart Butte Battle 1866 An important battle was fought between the Shoshone and Bannock Indians on one side and Crow Indians on the other, in view of this large flattop butte. Year after year, as game became scarce in other sections of the Indian Country, especially along routes traveled by the white settlers, more tribes depended on the Wind River Valley for their winter supply of meat, and it was increasingly difficult for the Shoshones to hold onto their prized hunting grounds. With the growing strength of the Shoshone Tribe, other tribes would generally combine forces before starting for the Wind River Country. However, the leaders of the strong Crow Tribe still considered themselves equal to the task of defeating the Shoshones on their own. A Shoshone scout, accompanied by his wife to signify that he was approaching on a peaceful mission, was sent to the Crow camp with a message from Chief Washakie demanding that the Crows do their hunting in the territory extending from their campsite east, toward the Owl Creek Range, while Shoshone people hunted the Wind River Range country. The Crows replied by killing the Shoshone scout and sending a message back with his wife, stating that they were prepared and eager to treat the balance of his tribe in the same manner, and they would hunt wherever they pleased. Word was sent to the friendly Bannocks who were camped on the banks of the Popo Agie river, a few miles south, and Chief Tigee with a party of Bannock fighting men soon joined the Shoshone in an attack on the Crow camp. The tribes proved to be so evenly matched, that as the battle continued into the fifth day it was apparent that neither side was able to gain an advantage, while men were being lost. It was finally agreed that Chief Washakie and Big Robber, the Crow Chief would have undisputed claim to the Wind River Valley. As both chiefs were noted fighters and bitter enemies, and neither tribe could afford to relinquish the privilege of hunting in the coveted Wind River Valley. The battle was heralded as a great event. Each tribe sent its Chief away with disguised emotions, cheering them on to victory and with shouts of encouragement, while realizing the stark truth that one would not return alive. The battle took place at a safe distance from either tribe in order to be certain that there would be no chance of interference. With their own lives and the future of their tribes depending upon the outcome of this contest, each Chief mounted on his favorite horse, carrying a pointed lance and a shield. Lined on both sides of the conflict, members of both the Shoshone and Crow tribes were silent and tense. Although excitement was at a high pitch each tribe looked on without interference, as they had agreed. As the battle raged back and forth, it soon became impossible to distinguish one fighter from the other in the distant haze of dust, and it was not until Washakie headed for his own camp that the outcome of the conflict became evident. In victory, Chief Washakie was so impressed with the bravery of the Crow Chief that instead of taking his scalp, he had cut out the heart of his antagonist and displayed it at the end of his lance until after the dance of victory held by the Shoshone warriors that night. One of the Crow girls captured during the battle was reported to have become the wife of Chief Washakie. Trout Creek Battle 1872 The Sioux and Cheyenne finally persuaded the Arapaho tribe to join with them in an endeavor to wipe out the Shoshones, their common enemy. Each tribe alone numbered more fighting men than the Shoshones. Year after year the Shoshones had been pursued, only to successfully outwit their foe, and safely make the protection of the Wind River Mountains. The wily leadership of Washakie and the daring bravery of the men was a constant flaunt to these enemy tribes. In the early spring of 1872, the Shoshone were taken by surprise by the combined forces of these three tribes, and advance scouts brought back word that they had been cut off from their usual retreat into the mountains. Trapped in the valley, and realizing that this was to be a battle upon which would depend the survival of the tribe, the people crossed the Trout Creek to higher ground and set up their lodges in a giant circle in preparation for the attack. Washakie ordered trenches to be dug inside each teepee, around the lower edge, sufficiently deep so that only the heads and enough of the bodies of fighting men were above the ground to permit them to shoot between the ground and the bottom of the teepee. The enemy, coming over a nearby ridge at dawn, observed the apparently hopeless plight of this small village, and was filled with confidence that their long hoped-for time to wipe out the Shoshone tribe had come. Gathering their forces they circled for the kill. Unseen by the attacking forces the Shoshones fired under their lodges from their buried positions and but a few of them were hit, while the invaders lost many men. Several charges were made, each receiving the same reception. When they were no longer heavily outnumbered, the Shoshone's noted the confusion in the enemy ranks caused by their ever increasing losses and attacked by horseback. After a fierce running battle, the three enemy tribes were driven out of the Wind River country, sustaining heavy losses in both men and horses. Upon examination of the Shoshone teepees after the battle, they were found to be peppered with holes made by enemy bullets and arrows, many of which would surely have found their mark had the Shoshone warriors not been firing from their entrenched positions. This information is courtesy of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. For more information please visit http://www.easternshoshone.net. Shoshone Words English (Français).......Shoshone One (Un)........Semme Two (Deux).......Wahatehwe Three (Trois).......Bahaitee' Four (Quatre).......Watsewite Five (Cinq).......Manegite Man (Homme).......Dainah Woman (Femme).......Wa'ipi Sun (Soleil).......Dabai Moon (Lune).......Muh Water (Eau).......Baa' Northern Arapaho Tribe The Arapaho, who call themselves 'Inuna-ina', are close allies with the Cheyenne. This name is roughly translated into 'our people'. The Arapaho tribe was represented by a large delegation of 24 from Oklahoma. The Arapaho are considered to be buffalo hunters of the plains but also have traditions of a time when they lived in the east and planted corn. The Arapaho, numbering in all about 1800, live in two divisions. The larger body lives with the Cheyenne in Oklahoma, while the northern division resides with the Shoshoni on a reservation in Wyoming. The Grosventres of Montana, formerly associated with the Blackfeet and numbering now about 700, are a detached band of Arapaho. Unlike their allies the Cheyenne, the Arapaho are of accommodating temper, and have easily adapted to civilization. Their 'medicine' is the 'flat pipe', in the keeping of the northern division. The Arapaho are devoted to the ghost dance and are considered the most expert sign-talkers on the plains. The Arapaho tribe shares many of the same characteristics as the Kiowa in that they fight and hunt on horseback, live in skin teepees, practice little or no agriculture, use the same weapons, and have similar military organizations and tribal ceremonies. They wore the prairie moccasin, breech-cloth, and buckskin dress. The men wore the scalp-lock, usually having the rest of the hair braided and hanging down in front on each side of the head. The are considered to be quite tall with a build that is sinewy and they have thin, clear-cut features. Northern Arapaho Tribal Government The Northern Arapaho Tribal lands were originally reduced to a reservation with defined boundaries by the U.S. Congress in the Ft. Bridger Treaty of July 3, 1868. The reservation was further reduced by the Brunot Agreement of 1872 and the McLaughlin Agreement of 1898. The Tribal governments maintain jurisdiction within the boundaries of the reservation including all rights-of-way, waterways, watercourses and streams running through any part of the reservation and to such others lands as may hereafter be added to the reservation under the laws of the United States. The Tribal government operates under a constitution approved by the Tribal membership which is the General Council and is not under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. The Business Council of the Northern Arapaho Tribe consists of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and four additional Council members which are elected by the Tribal members. For information about the Arapahoe Tribe, please visit http://www.northernarapaho.com. Arapaho Words English (Français).......Arapaho One (Un).......Casey Two (Deux).......Niis Three (Trois).......Naso Four (Quatre).......Yein Five (Cinq).......Yaathan Man (Homme).......Hinen Woman (Femme).......Hisei Dog (Chien).......Heth Sun (Soleil).......Hiisiis Moon (Lune).......Biikosiis Water (Eau).......Nech White (Blanc).......Nanaacaa ' Yellow (Jaune).......Niihaayaa' Red (Rouge).......Ba'a' Black (Noir).......Wa'ataya' Eat (Manger).......Biithih See (Voir).......Nanaahaata' Hear (Écouter).......Neniitanaat Sing (Chanter).......Niibeiinaa Leave (Partir).......Nanaathaat Some images are courtesy of the Wind River Visitor's Council. Please visit them at www.wind-river.org. |
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