Wind River Indian Reservation (Wyoming)

The Wind River Indian Reservation is a federally-recognized reservation, located in west-central (Fremont and Hot Springs Counties) Wyoming.


 * Established -- 1868
 * Agency (BIA) -- Wind River Indian Agency located at Fort Washakie, Wyoming
 * Principal tribes -- Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone
 * Population -- 6,544 Arapaho and Shoshone (2000 census). Total Reservation population 23,250 (2000 census) 1969: Tribal enrollment 4,594

History
In 1868 the war being fought in northeastern Wyoming, southeastern Montana, southern Idaho, southwestern Montana, and western Wyoming was negotiated to a peaceful end. In southern Idaho, southwestern Montana, and western Wyoming, the war is known as the Snake River War. In northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana, it is known as Red Clouds War. Both conflicts were the same war. On July 3, 1868 a treaty was signed which ended the Snake River War and established the Wind River Reservation. The Shoshone settled down to live on the large Reservation but the Arapaho continued to resist ceding land. They continued to fight the invading whites up to 1878, when they were forced to relocate to the Wind River Reservation.

Originally, the Reservation was considerably larger but the United States refused to honor treaty agreements. Through srupulous dealings the United States used Reservation leaders to reduce the size of the large Reservation. Arapaho leaders strongly opposed ceding Reservation land, while Shoshone leaders fell easy to the land acts.The land cession agreement of 1904 led to the Arapaho murdering the Shoshone leader, George Terry, who signed the land cession agreement.

The once large Reservation was significantly reduced in size and white settlers eventually settled down on the Reservations best farm land. The white city of Riverton is located within the Reservation. And a large area in the east central part of the Reservation is disputed land. The Arapaho never agreed to cede that land.

Brief Timeline
A.D. 1851

The Fort Laramie Treaty established the territories of the various tribes under Algonquin subjugation. The area where the Wind River Reservation is located is within the territory of the Gros Ventre (the Crow who are an admixture of Algonquin and Lakota) who are a sub-tribe of the Algonquin's and are the northern most Arapahoes. In North Dakota, the Crow are known as the Hidatsa. The Hidatsa Tribe are also known as the Gros Ventre. The Gros Ventre are Algonquin.

A.D. 1868

On July 3, 1868 the Fort Bridger Treaty ended the Snake River War and set aside the Wind RIver Reservation for the Arapaho and other Indians who agreed to live there.

A.D. 1872

Through a probable shady deal the Brunot Cession further corrupted the tribes living on the Wind River Reservation. Arapaho leaders did not agree to cede the land.

A.D. 1897

An agreement is reached with the Arapaho in which Arapaho leaders agreed to set aside a 10 sq. mi. area for a tribal park. It is known as the Big Horn Hot Springs State Park. The United States did not honor the agreement with the Arapaho. The park is managed by the State of Wyoming. The corrupted actions of the United States angered Arapaho leaders.

A.D. 1904

An agreement was reached with non Arapaho leaders in which the Reservation was significantly reduced in size. The non Arapaho leader who signed the agreement was murdered by the Arapaho. The 1904 Wind RIver Reservation Land Act coincides with the United States ratifying the infamous Chippewa 10 cent an acre treaty, or the 1892 McCumber Agreement.

Tribal Headquarters
Northern Arapaho Tribe 

533 Ethete Road

Ethete, Wyoming, 82520

Shoshone Tribe 

P.O. Box 158

Fort Washakie, Wyoming 82514

Records
Many of the records of individual Indians living on the Wind River Reservation were kept by the Wind River Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Others are kept by the Tribal Office.

Land records: Tribal land: 1,776,136 acres. Allotted land 109,344 acres

Web Sites
Wind River Reservation -- description and history

www.northernarapaho.com/

www.shoshoneindian.com/wind_river_reservation.htm

www.windriverhistory.org/archives/treaty_docs/docs/1904-agreement.pdf