In modern history, the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation (NWBSN) came under siege. “Manifest Destiny”, the axiom for occupying Native American lands, initiated a mass western migration toward NWBSN territory. As hunters and gatherers, the people (Newe) managed natural resources symbiotically in an environmentally efficient manner. They watched in desperation as an overwhelmingly technologically advanced American culture ensconced on their land. Within twenty years, trappers, settlers, miners and the US Cavalry turned the Newe’s “Garden of Eden” into farms, cities, mining and timber developments. In turn, the animals the Newe hunted for food and clothing and the valuable indigenous seed and tuber crops disappeared. Efforts for compensation often fell on deaf ears. However, some pioneers and leaders of the Mormon Church responded, but always fell short of the band’s survival needs. Desperate action by the Newe, including collecting rent by taking settler’s cattle and food items to prevent starvation, was often met with a severe military response. The NWBSN are also the direct descendents of those who suffered in the Bear River Massacre near modern day Preston, Idaho. Today, the Northwestern Shoshone are a thriving Native American Band. Their tribal center is located in Brigham City, Utah, and they also own tribal land in Washakie, UT, and Preston, ID. They currently have 458 enrolled members. In an effort to keep their culture alive they have written and illustrated Coyote Steals Fire (USU Press 2005), a children’s book that highlights their tribal legend and history, under the direction of Tamara and Shari Zollinger. The Northwest Band of the Shoshone Nation will hold a book-making workshop on Saturday, Oct. 21, and will join the book festival on Saturday, Oct. 28. The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation along with Patty Timbimboo and Tamara Zollinger will appear Saturday, Oct. 28, 4-5 pm, in the Salt Lake City Main Library, Children’s Library Story Room. |
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The Shoshone people are related to the Paiute, Bannock, and Ute. As a collective group, these tribes are called the Newe or Neme (the People). Prior to contact with Europeans, the Newe groups formed small extended-family groupings that traveled extensively as semi-monadic hunter-gatherers to survive the harsh environment of the Great Basin desert. The Northwestern Shoshone band was originally a part of these groupings that had traveled largely on foot in a delicate balance of living off the land.