Washakie
In 1851, at the urging of trapper Jim Bridger, Washakie led a band of Shoshones to the council meetings of the Treaty of Fort Laramie.
Essentially from that time until his death, he was considered the head of the Eastern Shoshones by the representatives of the United States government.
His father, Crooked Leg (Paseego), was an Umatilla rescued as a boy from slave traders at Wakemap and Celilo in 1786 by Weasel Lungs, a Tussawehee dog soldier (White Knife) Shoshone medicine man.
Seven months late for their scheduled arrival at Fort Astoria, they happened into Crooked Leg's camp on the Boise.
[3] Every able-bodied Shoshone was following and hunting the migrating herds of game, as bison were now scarce in the Ochoco and the rest of the southern Blue Mountains, and food was in short supply.
There had been a weak truce in the summer of 1820, between Fires Black Gun (Tooite Coon), (also known to white men as Cameahwait and Comeah Wait, brother to Sacajawea), and Piegan Blackfoot leader, Ugly Head.
A Piegan war party, led by Large Kidney and Four Horns, burst into one of their encampments on the Boulder River, to find Shoshone head chief Owitze (Twisted Hand), his war leader Red Wolf, and the popular young leader of the Tussawehee White Knife dog soldiers, Po'have (The Horse).
After Crooked Leg was killed, his mother and at least one sister were able to make their way back to the Lemhis on the Salmon River in Idaho.
One story describes how Washakie devised a large rattle by placing stones in an inflated and dried balloon of buffalo hide, which he tied on a stick.
He carried the device into battle to frighten enemy horses, earning the name "The Rattle" or "Gourd Rattler".
When as an older man his authority was questioned by fellow Eastern Shoshone, Washakie sought to reconfirm his prowess as a warrior to maintain his status.
He disappeared for many days, then returned having singlehandedly secured several scalps of his enemies, a daring feat for a man of any age.
Although an 1872 land cession reduced the size by 800,000 acres (3,200 km2), this valley remains the home of the Eastern Shoshones today.
He was also determined that Native Americans should be educated, and he gave land to Welsh clergyman John Roberts to establish a boarding school where Shoshone girls learned traditional crafts and language.
[8] In 1883, the Episcopal Church assigned John Roberts to minister to the Shoshone and Arapahos on the Wind River Reservation.
[10] c. 1888, Washakie helped Roberts establish a boarding school where Shoshone girls from distant villages could learn traditional crafts and language, by donating 160 acres near Trout Creek, which many considered sacred ground.
[11] Washakie chose Episcopalianism as his faith, was baptized again in 1897, and ultimately buried in a service officiated by his friend Roberts, on February 22, 1900.
[12] Congress reaffirmed the church's ownership of the school in 1909, when it deactivated the fort named after Chief Washakie.
[13] His prowess in battle, his efforts for peace, and his commitment to his people's welfare made him one of the most respected leaders in Native American history.
During World War II, a 422-foot (129 m) liberty ship built in Portland, Oregon, in 1942, SS Chief Washakie, was named in his honor.
As of April 2013[update] Washakie's great-great grandson James Trosper serves as Chair and Executive Director.
