Wind River Indian Reservation

On July 2, 1863, the Fort Bridger Treaty was signed between the United States and the Eastern Shoshone Indian tribe forming the Wind River Indian Reservation.  They are the only tribe given the land they requested that was part of their native territorial region.  The Wind River was the third largest reservation ever established.  The military fort built at Fort Washakie on the reservation was the first time a fort was ever named after an Indian Chief.  Chief Washakie lived on the reservation and when he died in 1900 at an age over 100, received a full military funeral and burial honoring his career in the U.S. Army.

In 1878, the Northern Arapaho were settled on the reservation because they required a winter shelter.  The arrangement was suppose to be temporary; however, it became a permanent arrangement.

Sacajawea, the Shoshoni Indian maiden who assisted Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Ocean, is buried on the reservation. She was almost 100 years old when she died.  She assisted Chief Washakie as a translator for several treaty agreements.

If you have more questions or just want to look at some of the Indian art and beautiful country on the Wind River Reservation, check the following links:

http://www.windriverhistory.org/

http://www.arapahoeschool.com/

http://www.arapahoranch.com/

http://www.wind-river.org/

www.shoshoneindian.com/shoshone_life.html

http://www.windrivercountry.com/

http://www.landerchamber.org/

www.landerchamber.org/RES.htm

www.margaretcoel.com/wind.html

www.bbhc.org/exhibitions/windRiver.cfm