Wind River Indian Reservation

Wind River Indian Reservation
Name	Wind River Indian Reservation
Settlement type	Indian reservation
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Wyoming
Subdivision type2	Counties
Subdivision name2	Fremont, Hot Springs
Seat type	Headquarters
Seat	Fort Washakie
Government type	Tribal Council
Leader title	Chairman
Leader name	Eastern Shoshone Tribe: John St. Clair, Northern Arapaho Tribe: Jordan Dresser
Area total sq mi	2.2
Population total	26,490
Population as of	2020
Population density sq mi	auto
Website	https://www.easternshoshone.net/ https://www.northernarapaho.com/

Wind River Indian Reservation is a federally recognized Indian reservation located in the central-western portion of the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is shared by two distinct Native American tribes, the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho, making it one of the few jointly occupied reservations in the United States. The reservation encompasses over 2.2 million acres of diverse landscape, including parts of the Wind River Range and the Owl Creek Mountains.

History

The reservation's origins trace to the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), which initially established a homeland for the Shoshone people under the leadership of Chief Washakie. Following the Powder River Expedition and the Great Sioux War of 1876, the U.S. government placed the Northern Arapaho, who were allied with the Lakota and Cheyenne, on the reservation in 1878 despite Shoshone objections. This contentious arrangement was later formalized by the United States Congress in the 1938 land claim settlement. Significant historical events include the 1905 allotment of tribal lands under the Dawes Act and the 1972 return of the Thermopolis hot springs site.

Geography and demographics

The reservation spans portions of Fremont County and Hot Springs County, with its headquarters at Fort Washakie. Its terrain is dominated by the eastern slopes of the spectacular Wind River Range, which contains Gannett Peak, the highest point in Wyoming, and the headwaters of the Wind River, which becomes the Big Horn River. According to the 2020 United States Census, the resident population was 26,490, with major communities including Riverton, Lander, and Ethete.

Government and politics

The reservation is governed by two separate sovereign nations: the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Each tribe has its own elected Tribal Council, Business Council, and leadership, such as the Eastern Shoshone Chairman John St. Clair and Northern Arapaho Co-Chairman Jordan Dresser. The tribes operate under constitutions approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior and exercise jurisdiction over a complex checkerboard of tribal, trust, and fee-simple lands. Key legal entities include the Joint Business Council and the Wind River Tribal Court.

Economy

The tribal economy is a mix of natural resource development, agriculture, and enterprise. Significant revenue comes from mineral royalties, particularly from natural gas production in the Wind River Basin, overseen by the Tribal Oil and Gas Commission. The tribes operate several successful businesses, including the Wind River Hotel and Casino, Little Wind Casino, and various retail outlets in Riverton. Other economic activities include ranching, farming of alfalfa and barley, and crafts such as beadwork and quillwork sold to tourists and collectors.

Culture and society

The reservation is a vibrant center for the preservation of Plains Indian cultures. Each tribe maintains distinct languages, with active Shoshoni and Arapaho language revitalization programs. Major cultural events include the annual Eastern Shoshone Indian Days, Northern Arapaho Powwow, and Sun Dance ceremonies held at sacred sites like Ethete. Institutions like the Wind River Heritage Center, the Shoshone Tribal Cultural Center, and the St. Stephen's Indian Mission work to preserve history and traditions.

Notable people

* Washakie (c. 1804–1900), renowned Eastern Shoshone chief and diplomat. * Sacagawea (c. 1788–1812), Lemhi Shoshone woman who assisted the Lewis and Clark Expedition; memorialized at Fort Washakie. * James P. Beckwourth (c. 1800–1866), African American frontiersman and explorer who lived among the Crow and is part of regional lore. * John G. Neihardt (1881–1973), poet and author of Black Elk Speaks, who interviewed Arapaho and Lakota elders. * Mark Soldier Wolf (1925–2017), Northern Arapaho elder, veteran, and traditional chief.

Category:Indian reservations in Wyoming Category:Federally recognized tribes in the United States Category:Populated places in Fremont County, Wyoming