ShoshoneBannock

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are a federally recognized Native American tribe composed of the Northern Shoshone and Bannock people. They are indigenous to the Intermountain West of the United States, primarily inhabiting the Great Basin region. Their ancestral lands historically spanned parts of present-day Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada. The tribes are united under a single tribal government with a shared reservation.

Historically, the Shoshone and Bannock were nomadic hunter-gatherers, relying on buffalo, deer, roots, and berries for sustenance. Their culture was deeply intertwined with the natural environment, and their traditional way of life was shaped by the seasonal availability of resources. They developed distinct languages, Shoshone and Bannock, which belong to the Uto-Aztecan language family.

In the 19th century, the arrival of European American settlers led to significant disruption of their traditional territories and way of life. This period was marked by conflict, displacement, and the establishment of reservations. Today, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are headquartered on the Fort Hall Reservation in southeastern Idaho, which encompasses over 500,000 acres. The reservation is a center for tribal governance, economic development, and cultural preservation. The tribes are involved in various enterprises, including agriculture, gaming, and natural resource management. They continue to actively work to maintain their cultural heritage, languages, and traditions for future generations.