Wind+River+Reservation+Tour

The Wind River Reservation: A Self-Guided Tour The original reservation, recognized by the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1863, included parts of Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming or a total of 44,672,000 acres. The second treaty of Fort Bridger, 1868, established the Wind River Reservation boundary roughly from the mouth of Owl Creek north of Thermopolis to the divide between Sweetwater and the Popo Agie River, then along the Wind River Mountains to the North Fork of the Wind River, then west to Owl Creek and down the middle of Owl Creek to the Wind River.

On December 15, 1874, the Brunot Cession ceded to the United States lands south and east of the North Fork of the Popo Agie. This was brought about because gold was discovered at South Pass and land titles had to be cleared. The present reservation extends approximately to Thermopolis on the northeast, Shoshoni on the east, and Dubois on the west. In 1878 the Northern Arapahos, brought to the reservation under military escort, settled in the Wind River Valley.

**1. Agency** All business is conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs under the direction of the superintendent, now Clyde W. Hobbs [as of 1974]. The original office building is still standing and is still in use. This building was constructed as 15th Infantry Headquarters for the U.S. Army.

Fort Augur was first established in 1868 at the present location of Lander, south of the reservation, to protect emigrants going to the West Coast. The name was later changed to Camp Brown. In 1871it was moved to the present site to protect the agency families at Wind River. It was known as Fort Brown until1878 when the name was changed to Fort Washakie in honor of the Shoshone chief.


 * 2. Public Health Service**

To the right is the old cavalry barracks. Once a hospital, it now serves as headquarters for the Public Health Service Clinic.


 * 3. Tribal Headquarters**

The Tribal Headquarters building was constructed in 1962 by the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes by matching funds with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It is the place for the Business Councils to meet and for hearings and trials. It also houses the tribal jail and police station.

The two tribes have a Business Council of six members each, which acts jointly in all matters of common interest. The council members are elected every two years for a two-year period.


 * 4. Old Cavalry Stable**

The building on the left is the old cavalry stable now used as an Irrigation Shop.


 * 5. Post Office**

The Post Office was completed in 1962. It is in the approximate location of the J. K. Moore trading post.


 * 6. Shoshone Community Hall**

The large building to the left is the Shoshone Community Hall, or the Rocky Mountain Hall, as it was called. Completed in 1965, this modem building has meeting rooms, a gymnasium, showers, and a kitchen.


 * 7. Rodeo and Shoshone Sun Dance Grounds**

The rodeo arena and Shoshone Sun Dance grounds can be seen on the left. During the summer months rodeos are held regularly. The Sun Dance, a private religious ceremony which takes place once a year, lasts three days.


 * 8. Tigee Village**

To the left you see Tigee Village, completed in 1967, at a cost of $240,000. There are 20 units, four with one bedroom, four with two bedrooms, eight with three bedrooms, and four with four bedrooms. This project was sponsored by the Joint Business Council of the Shoshone and Arapahoe tribes and financed with Housing and Urban Development funds in cooperation with the Wind River Local Housing Authority.


 * 9. Old Military Cemetery**

On the right is the old Military Cemetery where Chief Washakie is buried. Although the soldiers' remains were moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, many years ago, the grave of Chief Washakie was left intact. The chief was born about 1798 of Flathead and Lemhi Shoshone descent. He joined the Shoshone tribe in 1830 and quickly rose to a position of leadership, which he held until his death sixty years later. The chief was given a military burial and a marker was placed at his grave by the War Department.


 * 10. Shoshone Cemetery**

On the right side of the road is the Shoshone Indian cemetery. The large marker on the upper left marks the grave of an Indian woman reputed to be Sacajawea, wife of Charbonneau, whom she accompanied on the Lewis-Clark Expedition. The building standing in the cemetery is the first school constructed on the reservation. The hard surface road was built by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1961as a farm-to­ market road and for school busses. After construction it was turned over to Fremont County and is now maintained by the county.


 * 11. Roberts Episcopal Mission**

Roberts Episcopal Mission was founded by the Rev. John Roberts in 1889. Weekly church services are held here for members in the Fort Washakie area. Roberts came as a missionary to the Wind River Valley in 1883. In 1885he built his first church at Wind River, "The Church of the Redeemer." His work earned him the respect of both Indians and non­ Indians. He was a good friend of Chief Washakie, for whom he conducted final rites. The missionary died in 1949, after sixty-six years of service. He is buried in the Lander cemetery.


 * 12. Wind River**

This is Wind River. The original site of the Wind River Agency was on the river. After the army moved out, the agency was transferred to its present location. For about fifty years this was headquarters for the Irrigation Office, which later moved to the Wind River Agency. Now the buildings are used as headquarters for the Community Action Program and the Tribal Fish and Game Office.


 * 13. Block House**

The Block House was built for the protection of personnel upon the approach of hostile Indians. It was always stocked with fuel, food, and water. A well was dug inside the building.


 * 14. Fort Washakie School**

This is the Fort Washakie School, which is fully accredited. It has an enrollment of 274 students with 94 percent Indian children, mostly Shoshones in grades 1through 8. This was at one time an Indian boarding school. In 1955the Countryman School, Fort Washakie Public School, Winkleman Dome School, and Wind River Day School were consolidated. The land and buildings were transferred to the school district.


 * 15. Chief Washakie Plunge**

Chief Washakie Plunge provides year-round swimming and bathing in mineral water from natural hot springs. This is tribally owned and operated and is open to the public with a lifeguard on duty at all times. There is no charge to Indians. In the early 1900's there were three bath houses, one for the school students from the Fort Washakie Indian Boarding School, one for the army personnel from Fort Washakie, and one for the general public.

Not far from the bath house is the division line between the allotments of the Arapahoe and the Shoshone Indians. Arapahos generally live to the east and Shoshones to the west.

On the right, the little white house near the river is a water pump station constructed by the United States Public Health. It serves the homes in the Ethete area and is operated by the Arapahoe tribe. The homes along this road are owned by the Arapahos and are on Indian allotted lands.

On the right is the new Catholic Church. The artistic decorations were painted in the colorful geometric designs of the Arapahos.


 * 16. Ethete Community Hall and Pow-Wow Grounds**

On the left is the old Ethete Community Hall and adjacent to it are the Ethete Pow-Wow grounds. The Arapaho tribe has constructed a new building through grants the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Economic Development Administration provided.


 * 17. St. Michael's Episcopal Mission**

Next we see St. Michael's Episcopal Mission. The mission was originally located about two miles south and was moved to this location about 1919. It was first a boarding school for grades 1 through 8. Then it was converted to a day school. When the new Mill Creek School was built, all students went there. This then became a child-care center for children up to six years of age. In 1963, it was converted into a home for teenagers.

Today the buildings continue to serve a variety of community purposes. Here one may visit the Arapahoe Cultural Museum with a priceless collection of artifacts. Space, too, is provided for a Youth Residence Program housing eighteen or more teenagers in need of special homes. There is also an emergency shelter for children of all ages. Head-start Program and Day Training Center for the handicapped are also on the premises, and starting January 24, 1972, the gymnasium and certain other buildings became the temporary headquarters, classrooms, and cafeteria for the new independent Wyoming Indian High School. These, together with Our Father's House and a post office, comprise Ethete, Wyoming.


 * 18. Mutual Help Housing**

Across from the mission is the Mutual Help Housing project which is similar to the one at Arapaho, Wyoming. It was completed in December, 1969. These are three-bedroom homes, equipped with natural gas, water, and sewer.

Just west of the Mutual Help Houses are twenty low-rent houses completed in early 1972.


 * 19. Mill Creek Public School**

The Mill Creek Public School was built in 1957. It has an enrollment of which 85 percent are Indian children, mostly Arapahos. This is a fully accredited school, grades 1 through 8.The homes were built for teachers, administrators, and a custodian. Silas Lyman is the superintendent.

About two-and-one-half miles north from here is the Sharp Nose Memorial Cemetery. It was dedicated in 1968 by the American Legion. Legionnaires from Arapahoe, Riverton, Lander, and Ethete participated in the ceremony.

The Arapahoe Community Center, built by the Indians, was completed in December, 1969. Funds for the $260,000 building came from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Arapahoe Tribe on 75-25 percent matching basis.

The Mutual Help Housing Project was sponsored by HUD in cooperation with the Wind River Housing Authority appointed by the Shoshone and Arapahoe Business Council. There are ten three-bedroom homes equipped with natural gas, water, and sewer. The homeowners who contributed their labor make a small monthly payment until the house is fully paid for. Construction was completed in December 1969.

Twenty new low-rent housing units adjacent to the Mutual Help Housing site were completed in August 1972.

The Arapaho Public School has about 210 students, of which 24 percent are Arapahoes [as of 1974]. This modem school was built in 1959. In 1968 three new classrooms, a library, and a music room were added. This modem school teaches grades 1 through 8 and is fully accredited.

The Arapahoe Industrial Park is a joint venture between the Arapahoe tribe and the Economic Development Administration. The 46-acre site was leased from the Shoshones by the Arapahoe tribe for a 25-year period with an option to renew for a similar time. The park was approved by EDA in April, 1969, and construction was completed in July, 1971. The park has complete utility service and is the only Industrial Park on a railroad in Fremont County.

Negotiations are being conducted with prospective industries interested in locating in the park.

St. Stephens Mission, founded by the Society of Jesuits in 1884, was set up as a boarding school. In 1939, the mission ceased being a boarding school and became a day school. In 1966, the high school was terminated. The mission now teaches about 250 students in grades 1 through 8.

Riverton, a municipality on the reservation, is the shopping center for the Arapahoes, while the Shoshones, who occupy the western portion of the reservation, do most of their trading at Lander, south of the reservation border.

The Arapaho Ranch, not shown on the accompanying map, is northeast of Fort Washakie, in the Owl Creek Mountain area. It is reached by going to Shoshoni, through Wind River Canyon, and continuing by way of Thermopolis.

As of September 4, 1974, the tribal rolls at the Wind River Reservation show 2,159 Shoshones and 3,034 Arapahos. Statistics furnished by Clyde W. Hobbs, agent, Fort Washakie, Wyoming.