THE FIVE TRIBES OF IDAHO BY RANDY’L TETON (SHOSHONE-BANNOCK)
As an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, I was born and raised on the Fort Hall Reservation in southeastern Idaho, and like my ancestors before me, we have hunted, gathered, and lived off these lands for time immemorial. We have ancient place names for the mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, animals, and even the rocks. When we think of Idaho, we think of majestic mountains, outdoor fishing, and hunting. But in the shadow of those mountains and rivers, our people, who have long inhabited these lands and continue to do so today, are often overlooked. This article is to acknowledge the first peoples of Idaho before state lines existed. Today, five federally recognized tribes populate this state. In the north, the Nez Perce, the Coeur d’Alene, and the Kootenai have existed for centuries. Further south, there are the Shoshone-Bannock and Shoshone-Paiute, and each tribe has a distinct cultural heritage, language, history, and story to tell. Idaho’s topography varies greatly, from high desert plains in the south to vast pine forests in the north with 115 mountain ranges in between. Our first peoples walked the Snake River Plain, Salmon River country and mountains, the Panhandle, and western Idaho. Each area differs dramatically in climate, geography, plants, animals, fish, minerals, and rivers, lakes, and streams and each tribe has a unique connection to the lands occupied by their ancestors. The tribes are considered sovereign nations within the state and each has its designated land base, government, and creation story of how they came to exist. There’s so much rich Native American history that doesn’t appear in textbooks or schools, especially because the tribal perspective is missing. Our story is still unfolding as far as how we have adjusted from being removed from our ancestral lands to present-day reservation lands. Ultimately, we have evolved into becoming “your friendly neighbor.” Hoping to promote a better understanding of our history and culture, some Tribes have invested in casinos, resorts, and spas. But our true value has nothing to do with gambling. Many don’t know that a reservation is similar to a small rural city. Tribes have government offices to conduct tribal government business, healthcare facilities, schools, a post office, grocery stores, gas stations, and
LEO TETON (Shoshone-Bannock) 2021 Grand Marshall, Eastern Idaho State Fair, Blackfoot Idaho. PHOTO BY SUMMER POPEJOY JACKMAN
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