Shoshoni

The Shoshoni (also spelled Shoshone or Shoshoni) refer to a Native American people of the Great Basin whose traditional territory spans parts of present-day Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. The term is sometimes applied to several distinct groups with related languages and cultures.

The main divisions include the Northern Shoshone, Eastern Shoshone, and Western Shoshone. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation (Idaho) bring together Shoshone and Bannock; the Eastern Shoshone Nation reside on the Wind River Reservation (Wyoming) in partnership with the Northern Arapaho; the Western Shoshone peoples hold lands in Nevada, Utah, and parts of California. The Shoshone language belongs to the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan family, with dialects recognized among the groups.

Traditionally, Shoshone communities were hunter-gatherers with seasonal migrations; they adopted horse culture after contact with Europeans and allied with neighboring tribes in trade networks. Sacagawea, a Lemhi Shoshone woman, gained fame for assisting the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In the 19th century, U.S. treaties and policies led to the creation of reservations and ongoing struggles for land and sovereignty.

Today, Shoshone people maintain cultural practices and language preservation efforts while pursuing self-determination within the U.S. federal framework. They are recognized as distinct tribal nations and continue to contribute to regional history and culture.