Researched by Sonny Shoyo, Tourguide/Researcher
Washakie was born in 1798 among the Flathead Indians of Montana. When Washakie
was born, a ray of morning light made a straight line down his infant body,
giving him the birth name of “Shoots Straight”. When he was in
his teenage years, he earned the name that would stay with him for the rest
of his life. From an inflated dried scrotum of a buffalo, he made a rattle,
which he called, “WA-SHA-KEE”.
A raid of Blackfeet Indians attacked his people and his father, chief of the
Flathead Indians was killed. Washakie, his Shoshone mother and his two sisters
wandered throughout the Montana and Idaho territory looking for their people
who had run away during the attack.
They arrived on the bank of the Salmon River in Idaho, where they met the friendly ìLemhiî or ìSalmon
Eatersî. Washakie and family lived with the Lemhi for several years, until
several Flatheads came to their village. When they returned home, Washakie’s
mother and one sister went with them. One of Washakieís sisters and his
brothers married into the Lemhi tribe. When his mother and sister left with the
Flathead, it would be the last time he would ever see them again.
A few years later, a group of Bannock Indians approached the Lemhi camp. A Bannock
happened to know Washakieís father and was his friend, thus Washakie was
greatly influenced by him. Washakie returned with the Bannocks to the Fort Hall
area, where he remained with them for five years. In 1830, the Bannocks visited
the Eastern Band of Shoshone Indians in the Fort Bridger Country, where Washakie
joined them. Washakie would eventually become the last war chief for the Eastern
Band of Shoshone.
Through his natural leadership during a battle, it was not long until he would
become elected sub-chief for the Eastern Band of Shoshone. Washakie wanted to
prove to the people that he was an outstanding peacemaker, interpreter, statesman,
skilled hunter, and warrior. By 1840, he was elected as chief of the Eastern
Band of Shoshone.
Not long after being elected chief, Chief Washakie decided that there should
be a permanent place for his people. At his request, the U.S. Government agreed
to establish a reservation for Chief Washakie and his people.
On July 3, 1868, Chief Washakie and Chief Tigee signed the Ft. Bridger Treaty
along with seven United States military men. Under this treaty, the United States
agreed to furnish a physician, teacher, carpenter, miller, engineer, farmer,
and blacksmith for the Eastern Band of Shoshone and Bannocks.
Chief Washakie’s request for Christian training was answered when the Episcopal
Mission sent Father John Roberts to the Shoshone Reservation in 1883. There,
Father John Roberts established the first girlsí school and the Episcopal
Church. Chief Washakie and Father Roberts became very good friends whom he called, “White
Robe”.
Chief Washakie was an outspoken chief, demanding absolute control over every
activity of his tribe. He was also friendly to the non-Indians, having not a
single Whiteman scalp hang in his lodge. Chief Washakie remained chief of the
Shoshone for more than sixty years.
On the evening of February 23, 1900, Chief Washakieís family members gathered
around his bedside. That night around 8:30pm, the Great Chief of the Shoshones
went on his journey to the happy hunting grounds. On February 24, 1900, the Chief
of the Shoshone Indians had passed away.
Chief Washakie was given a full military burial and was ranked as Captain by
orders from the President of the United States. He was buried in the military
cemetery, which would later become known as Chief Washakie Cemetery. This was
the only full military burial ever given to an American Indian Chief.
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Photo of Chief Washakie courtesy of the Museum of the American
West.
Photo of Chief Washakie statue courtesy of
the Eastern Shoshone Tribe.
Eastern
Shoshone Home
Chief Washakie
Sacajawea
Crowheart
Butte Battle of 1866
The Old Block
House
Chief Washakie
Plunge
(Hot Springs)
Education on Wind River Reservation |
