Mead visits for 150th anniversary of Ft. Bridger treaty

Virginia Giorgis, Bridger Valley Pioneer
Posted 7/6/18

Fort Bridger holds treaty reenactment

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Mead visits for 150th anniversary of Ft. Bridger treaty

Posted

FORT BRIDGER — The 1868 Fort Bridger treaty was the agreement between two cultures to live cohesively and in peace instead of war. The 150-year anniversary, or the sesquicentennial, celebration of the signing of the treaty was held at the Fort Bridger State Historic Site on Tuesday, July 3.

It included members of the Eastern Shoshone and the Shoshone-Bannock tribes and re-enactment cavalry soldiers. And true to the signing, the flag flying at the state site was a U.S. flag of 36 stars. The re-enactment took place on the parade grounds at the state site.

The official 1868 treaty, which was signed at Fort Bridger, Utah Territory, was the work of many, both white and Native American, in which the two cultures could form an agreement.

Cut to July 3, 1868, one of the tribes’ representatives noted July 4 is the day of American independence. He added, the signing of the 1868 treaty was the day the two tribes lost their independence as they agreed to give up claims to what they considered tribal lands and move to an area that would be set up permanently for them.

He said, “On this day, we gave up our independence … July 3 acknowledges our dependence on the United States government.” 

Among the signers of the 1868 treaty at Fort Bridger were Chief Washakie of the Eastern Shoshones, Chief Taghee of the Bannocks and Peace Commissioner Major General C.C. Augur. Descendants of both Chief Washakie and Chief Taghee were on hand for the re-enactment.

Gov. Matt Mead was on hand and said the Wyoming Legislature, during the session this year, had set the wheels in motion for the history of the Native Americans of Wyoming to be taught in Wyoming’s schools. He thanked the Eastern Shoshone and the Shoshone-Bannock for their contributions to the state, and noted, in 150 years, there had been a lot of changes.

Multiple tribal representatives spoke during the ceremony.

Lee Juan Tyler, a descendent of Chief Taghee, said the 1868 treaty was ratified and was considered “a very sacred event.”

The Eastern Shoshone and the Shoshone-Bannock were both nomadic tribes who traversed an extensive area including land in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, all the way to the Sierra Madres and more. One of the speakers said the two tribes were “being threatened by the settlers, threatened by the government,” and the signing was a way to ensure the tribes could survive. In fact, one speaker referred to the tribes as “the first endangered species” and if the treaties hadn’t been signed the Native Americans would have been eliminated.

Darrell Shay, vice chairman of the Fort Hall business council, cited Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution and said the significance of the treaty was that the article provided for treaties with foreign governments and the Indian tribes and the treaty changed everything. After the signing, the tribe “learned to adapt to our environment … and hope the government officially honors” its commitment to the tribes.

John Washakie, great-grandson of Chief Washakie, said the treaty provided for the Eastern Shoshone and an area in which the tribe would be able to permanently live.

As for the actual re-enactment, the story started with the Eastern Shoshone and the Shoshone-Bannock waiting at Fort Bridger for U.S. Peace Commissioner Major General C.C. Augur to arrive at Fort Bridger to discuss the treaty. In the meantime, while they waited, tribal chiefs did a war dance to the incessant beat of the tom-tom.

The sound of a bugle in the background, announced Augur had arrived, and he met with Chief Washakie and Chief Taghee and spoke of the letter of Oct. 4, 1867, from the Great White Father in which there was talk of establishing reservations or land for the tribes. Both chiefs indicated, through sign language, things they needed for existence. 

After the talk, the two chiefs and the rest of the chiefs returned to their people to discuss what they wanted. They held a peace pipe ceremony during which they looked for guidance. In the ceremony, as explained Tuesday, the pipe had great power and is used to bless all four directions: East, where the sun rises and provides the morning light; South, where the moon rises and gives light to the night; West, where the sun goes down and provides for the night; and the North, where the cold comes to heal and cleanse.

In an explanation of the peace pipe ceremony, the speaker said the pipe has a “strong life.” In addition, the speaker said, “The young people need to take an interest in Indian ways … maintain the culture and traditions … and be very respectful.”

When discussing the Oct. 4 letter, Major General Augur told Chief Washakie and Chief Taghee, it was recognized the Shoshone and the Shoshone-Bannonk had been peaceful for years and hadn’t been at war with the white man. The treaty would provide arrangements so “there would never be another war,” between the tribes or with the white man. It would provide the tribes with land that would remain theirs and noted the Great White Father said “the treaty would provide peace with the white man and other tribes…no people prosper who are continually at war.”

Chief Washakie and Chief Taghee took five days to reach a consensus. Chief Taghee asked about the Pinedale country. Chief Washakie responded no, as there was no feed for the horses, no water and a lot of sagebrush. Next was the Farson country. Chief Washakie said no, as there was no water, no feed for the horses and a lot of sagebrush. Next, Taghee asked about the Owl Creek Country.

Washakie said no, as there was lots of snow, no grass for the horses and a lot of bare mountains. Taghee asked about the Hot Springs Country. Washakie said that was good as there was a lot of grass and water, plentiful game and noted the number of rivers and lakes in the area.

“Yes, we can live there as long as the grass is green, and the water flows,” Chief Washakie said. “We will be able to live and this will be our land.”

Back at the table to negotiate, the two chiefs tell Augur what their decision is about the ground. More negotiations ensue as to both tribes being on the same land (Bannock said no, they wanted their own land), the use of one Indian agent and if the Bannock would get their supplies at the Wind River Reservation along with the Eastern Shoshone. It was decided the Bannock would receive their supplies at Fort Bridger and when available, a reservation would be marked for the Bannock. 

Then it was time for the chiefs to sign the treaty so it could be ratified by the U.S. Senate.

The re-enactment was sponsored by the Eastern Shoshone and Shoshone-Bannock Business Councils, the Fort Bridger Historical Association, and the Wyoming Humanities Council.