Customer Reviews

People of the Wind River: The Eastern Shoshones, 1825-1900

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Glad to know somebody reviewed this book.
I have a deep interest in the Shoshone history....though I am
a white causcasian female . Was searching for ONE book about
their history ..prior to white contact. Looks like there are
at least 3 books about Shoshone history. Too bad most
Americans have just forgotten about our Native Americans.
THANK you also for recommending the historical fiction book
mentioned in the first review.
Sounds very interesting to me.

Henry E. Stamm IV (adjunct professor of American Indian History, Idaho State University in Pocatello) presents People of the Wind River: The Eastern Shoshones 1825-1900, a historical chronicle of the Eastern Shoshones from 1825, when they came to mutual accommodations with the first permanent white American settlers in the their land, to 1900, when the passing of Chief Washakie heralded the end of their traditional lifestyle as Plains Indians. Primary documents, interviews with descendants of early Shoshone leaders, and more form the core research for this careful analysis of how the tribe accepted, adapted and endured the coming of miners, trappers, traders, and settlers. For decades they sought to maintain a culture that hunted buffalo on Wind River Reservation, in spite of misguided reservation management and repeated attempts to "civilize" them. As cattle herds grew and buffalo dwindled, the Eastern Shoshone lost their former economic power, and could no longer sustain their physical lives through buffalo hunting alone, but held fast to their spiritual traditions. A handful of black-and-white photographs, notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this superbly researched and presented account, highly recommended especially for college library collections and Native American history shelves.

This book is informative and in depth regarding the Shoshone nation of Wind River. I have now a deep respect for the honored Chief Washakie of their tribe. I wish I could have elected him President of the United States.

I recommend reading Geneva's Hope, a historical romance including reference to the Shoshone nation. It is make believe but gives insights into the nation. The romance novel Geneva's Hope is set in the late 1870's. The tribal nation is the Shoshone and the location is Ely, Nevada.

I also recommend Smitten (historical romance) by Payton Lee