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Chief Washakie is a famous Indian Leader
who is most known for getting along and making peace. He helped and
aided the pioneers who came overland. He had a very complicated life
living with other Indian Tribes. Chief Washakie was productive and
positive. |
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Chief Washakie was born in 1798 with the
Flathead Indians. When he was born, there was a ray of sun that streaked
a line down through his body. So the Flathead Indians named him “Shoots
Straight”. When he was in his teenage years, he had made a rattle that
he made up out of a dry scrotum of a buffalo. He called it WA-SHA-KEE.
From that day on he was called Washakie. |
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During his teenage years, the Blackfoot
Indians attacked his tribe and his people. Washakie, His two sisters,
and his mother were able to get away. His father died, along with the
rest of his tribe. Washakie and the rest of his family set out to Montana
and Idaho to find survivors. Finally they found an Indian tribe called
the Lemhi Indians on the bank of the Salmon River. The Lemhi Indians are
also called the Salmon Indians. |
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For the next few years, Washakie and his
family stayed with the Lemhi Indians. One of his sisters had married
into the tribe. After they stayed for a couple of years, some surviving
Flathead Indians appeared. Washakie’s mother and sister decided to go
back home with them. Washakie and his sister stayed behind. After his
mother his sister left, that was the last time he ever saw them again. |
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A few years after his mother ad sister
left, some Bannock Indians approached the tribe. One of them knew
Washakie’s father, who was the chief. Washakie was very much influenced
by him. Washakie joined the Bannock Indians to go to the Fort hall area.
Washakie stayed with the Bannock Indians for five years. |
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In 1830 the Bannock Indians traveled to the
Band of Shoshone people. Washakie became the sub-chief of the Shoshone
Indians. Washakie wanted to be the chief of the Shoshone. He wanted to
show them how he was a good peacemaker, interpreter, statesman, skilled
hunter, and a warrior. In 1840, Washakie became the chief of the
Shoshone people. |
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Washakie decided to find a permanent place
for his people. So he requested to the government to set a reservation
of land for the Shoshone people. The government confirmed the request
for the people. Washakie and Chief Tigee of the Bannock people signed
the FT. Bridger Treaty, along with some military men. The purpose of the
treaty , in addition to gaining a permanent home was for the US government to furnish a physician, teacher, carpenter,
miller, engineer, farmer, and a blacksmith. The treaty also had to do with learning Christianity. He believed that his people needed an equal right
to learn like other people. |
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The learning of Christianity started in
1883 when father John Roberts came. There, Father John Roberts started
the first girl’s school, along with an Episcopal church. Father John
Roberts and Washakie became good friends. Washakie would call him “White
Robe”. |
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After, they built a bathhouse for
themselves. They would swim and drink out of it. It was used to cure
sickness, to relieve pains and aches, and for the elderly to live
longer. The Shoshone would not go at night, because they believed that
it had supernatural powers. This was very important. |
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The Shoshone people also had another spring
ninety-six miles north of their other one. The government wanted to by
it from them, since they had two springs. The United States Inspector,
James McLaughlin, went to the Shoshone Indians to negotiate. The
government was able to pay sixty thousand dollars for the land that
includes one of the springs. Then, Chief Washakie said that he has
stayed there for a long time and that he was not willing to give it
away. From that day forward it remained. Now, though, it is used as an
attractive swimming pool. |
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Chief Washakie served sixty years as the
chief of the Shoshone people. He became the last of the war chiefs.
During his last few years being the ruler, he helped and nursed the
white pioneers get through the land. Chief Washakie is famous, because
of the peace he kept between the Whiteman and the Shoshone. He is
celebrated today, by being put as a bronze statue to show what a great
person he was. |
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