THIS IS INDIAN LAND: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

BY Jessica Mehta

Yellowstone's Native Peoples

Humans have been connected to Yellowstone for more than 11,000 years. Ancestors of the Kiowa, Apsaalooke (Crow), Blackfeet, Cayuse, Clovis, Coeur d’Alene Nez, Shoshone, Nez Perce, and Umatilla have long made use of the region’s resources. Because Yellowstone is at the junction of the Great Plains, the Great Basin, and the Plateau Indian cultures, a variety of Tribes have used the location for hunting, gathering plants and seeds, and fishing. The wonder-filled area was also paramount in religious, medicinal, and ceremonial purposes, especially in connection with the thermal and mineral-rich waters. The Crow called Yellowstone “land of the burning ground.” The Blackfeet Tribe knew the area as “many smoke.” And for the Kiowa, it was called “the place of hot water.”

In the 1700s horses became a staple tool for many Tribes around the area. Use of horses changed the lifestyle of Native Americans allowing for reliable, quick travel. Horses also greatly helped in the hunting of bison

and other large game native to the plains, making food sources more consistent and easier to acquire. Typically, hunting bison and large game was done on foot, forcing a few of the herd off a cliff, a technique called jumping. The Tukudika people, however, did not adopt the use of horses. Rather, they adapted to live in the high mountains with bighorn sheep. Bighorn sheep were a staple of their diet, and they even soaked their horns in Yellowstone’s hot springs to mold them into bows for hunting, protection, and trade. Yellowstone’s climate can be harsh, particularly during the winter months. These Tribes had to rely on the area’s resources to survive—and they had to be strong and clever to make it in such a harsh terrain.

The Area’s Appeal

It's often rumored that humans did not live in the Yellowstone area until settlers and explorers arrived because the features of the landscape were so mysterious and dangerous, but that is simply untrue. Yellowstone Lake currently holds some of the oldest archeological deposits in the Park, proving that humans embraced this territory for thousands of years.

However, the U.S. Army was sent to the area to force out Native populations. The public was then informed that Native Americans did not inhabit the area because of fear of the geysers. Over the past thirty years, the Park has worked toward correcting the narrative, opening up communication and understanding of the Park’s authentic prehistory. Geologists and archeologists have been working to uncover artifacts around the Park so that these important stories and truths can be more widely shared.

With Yellowstone Lake being the largest body of water in the area, it’s no surprise that many of the Tribes made it a common pit stop. What’s surprising, however, is that most Native American Tribes did not practice a lot of fishing here. The focus of the area was geared towards gathering the many edible plants around the lake and hunting the animals that also made great use of the lake. Elk, bison, deer, rabbit, and bear were common in the diets of those Tribes most active in this area—namely the Blackfeet, Crow, Nez Perce, and Shoshone. The area’s appeal wasn’t just the beauty or the immense food resources, but an important natural substance as well: obsidian. Obsidian forms from cooled lava, creating volcanic glass with extremely sharp edges. Many Native American Tribes used obsidian to make knives and tools, such as arrowheads for hunting. One of the oldest discoveries in the Park is a broken projectile point from the Clovis people, who were very successful hunters and braved the harsh winters year after year.

This was found at Yellowstone Lake in addition to a 6,000-yearold radiocarbon-dated fire pit by the Fishing Bridge. Pottery sherds, called Intermountain Ware, were also found in the West Thumb area indicating the use of local clay and crushed rock to cook and store food. This type of pottery is typically associate with the Shoshone people and dates to approximately 1,000 years ago. With more than 300 archeological sites around Yellowstone Lake alone and thousands of artifacts discovered over recent years, it’s clear that the Yellowstone area was well used and much loved by many Native American Tribes long before contact.

The Story of the Bison

Native Americans of the Yellowstone area relied heavily on the bison for their main food source. Every part of the bison was used for a purpose: The meat for food, the hide for clothing and shelter, bones and horns for tools, the bladder for holding water.

The Plains Indians had over 140 uses for a single bison, and they held ceremonial practices to honor and show appreciation for the animal. They felt connected to the earth and animals, holding post-hunt ceremonies and prayers to ensure proper gratitude was given for a creature considered symbolic of life.

In the 1800s, the U.S. government “began a campaign to remove Native American tribes from the landscape by taking away their main food source: bison.” Sadly, U.S. troops slaughtered hundreds of thousands of bison, with many simply left to rot in the sun. In a short amount of time, the plains of the Yellowstone area that was one dominated by bison herds was almost quiet, and numbers of bison dwindled to only a couple dozen in Pelican Valley. For such a revered animal to the Native Americans, this tragedy still haunts descendants today. In 1902, Yellowstone’s management took action to bring back the herds. They purchased 21 bison from local. private owners and raised them at Lamar Buffalo Ranch. Slowly, they mixed them with the small free-roaming population, and by 1954, their numbers had gown back to about 1,300. Today, there are over 5,000 bison, with tens of thousands more in private herds or preservation managements around the area.

Peter Ray James Artwork

How to Support Yellowstone’s Artists

Yellowstone works with several Native American artists with connections to the area. Scott Frazier is a Crow Tribal member who is bringing insight to the public through a program called Project Indigenous. Crystal Rose Demientieff World’s company is Indigenous owned, promoting cultural objects that represent Indigenous heritages. Traci Rabbit’s work captures the strength of the Native American woman through her passionate creations. Peter Ray James boasts an impressive art network as he’s been featured in magazines and art shows around the country. DG House is in Bozeman, MT but many of her works are showcased in the Yellowstone Art Museum. She says Yellowstone is “the essence of everything [she] does…” and her each piece of her artwork tells a story.

Traci Rabit's Artwork

Yellowstone National Park has a complicated past. Recognizing Native American’s history and connection to the area is paramount to understanding the true Yellowstone narrative and learning from the stories of the region’s Indigenous peoples.

Jessica Mehta is a multi-award winning Aniyunwiya (citizen of the Cherokee Nation) writer and artist. Born and based in Oregon, she takes advantage of her beautiful backyard of the Pacific Northwest on a daily basis. Learn more at:

www.thischerokeerose.com.