The Bannock Tribe – Roaming the Great Basin
The vast expanse of the Great Basin, a region characterized by its arid landscapes, towering mountains, and sprawling deserts, served as the ancestral homeland for numerous Native American tribes. Among these, the Bannock Tribe carved out a distinct identity, their history woven into the very fabric of this challenging yet bountiful territory. This article delves into the rich cultural heritage, historical trajectory, and contemporary realities of the Bannock Tribe, a people deeply connected to the lands they have inhabited for centuries.
The Bannock Tribe, a Shoshonean people, traditionally occupied a territory encompassing southeastern Oregon and southern Idaho. Known to themselves as the Panati, they spoke a dialect of the Northern Paiute language, reflecting a close linguistic and cultural connection to the Northern Paiute people. Indeed, the relationship is so intimate that some anthropologists have posited that the Bannock were simply the northernmost band of the Northern Paiute, highlighting the fluid boundaries and shared heritage of these related groups. This connection underscores the importance of understanding the broader linguistic and cultural landscape of the Great Basin to fully appreciate the unique identity of the Bannock Tribe.
In their early history, the Bannock Tribe were primarily sustained by the resources of their environment, relying on fishing and hunting small game for sustenance. Ingenious methods were developed to harvest the bounty of the region’s rivers and lakes. Harpoons, hand nets, and weirs constructed from intricately woven willow branches were employed to capture fish, a crucial element in their diet. Supplementing their animal-based protein sources, the Bannock were also skilled gatherers of plant foods, utilizing a variety of native flora for nutritional and medicinal purposes. Their dwellings, adapted to the nomadic lifestyle dictated by the seasonal availability of resources, consisted of teepees and small conical lodges crafted from sagebrush, grass, and woven willow branches, providing portable and readily constructed shelters.
A significant transformation in the Bannock Tribe’s way of life occurred with the adoption of the horse. This pivotal development ushered in an era of increased mobility and facilitated closer interactions with the Northern Shoshone. The acquisition of equestrian skills allowed the Bannock to become a widely roaming tribe, extending their reach across the Great Basin and beyond. Despite their Shoshonean linguistic roots, early observers often noted a physical resemblance between the Bannock and the Nez Perce, another prominent tribe of the region, highlighting the complex interplay of cultural and physical traits that shaped tribal identities.
The annals of westward expansion record encounters between European-American explorers and the Bannock Tribe. The Lewis and Clark expedition, traversing the vast uncharted territories of the early 19th century, may have encountered the Bannock, potentially including them under the general designation of Shoshone, or perhaps referring to them as the "Broken Moccasin Indians." A more definitive encounter was documented by the frontiersman Jim Bridger in 1829, who estimated the Bannock population to be substantial, numbering around 8,000 individuals residing in approximately 1,200 lodges. In 1833, the explorer Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville encountered the Bannock Tribe along the Portneuf River, an area situated immediately north of the present-day Fort Hall Reservation, providing further geographical context to their territorial range.
The northernmost division of the Bannock Tribe came into contact with Washington Territory Governor Isaac Stevens in 1853, who encountered them residing along the Salmon River in eastern Idaho. It is believed that these Salmon River Bannock had recently migrated across the mountains from the east, seeking refuge from the pressures exerted by the Siksika (Blackfoot) Indians. The Bannock claimed a territory encompassing southwestern Montana, including areas rich in resources that would later become the sites of Virginia City, Bozeman, and other burgeoning towns. Stevens noted that the Bannock Tribe had suffered significant losses due to the ravages of smallpox epidemics and conflicts with the Siksika, underscoring the challenges they faced in a rapidly changing world.
The establishment of the Fort Hall Reservation in 1869 marked a turning point in the history of the Bannock Tribe. Approximately 600 Bannock, along with a large contingent of Shoshone, initially agreed to settle on the reservation. However, the allure of their traditional nomadic lifestyle and the diminishing resources within the confined boundaries of the reservation led many to abandon it. By 1878, the combined pressures of the loss of traditional hunting grounds, the drastic decline in buffalo populations, and the perceived failure of the government to provide adequate assistance culminated in the Bannock War. Led by Chief Buffalo Horn and joined by Northern Paiute allies, the Bannock engaged in raids on white settlements in search of food, triggering a military response from the U.S. Cavalry under General Oliver Otis Howard. The ensuing conflict resulted in significant casualties on both sides, culminating in the tragic deaths of approximately 140 Bannock men, women, and children at Charles’ Ford, Wyoming. Ultimately, the remaining Bannock surrendered and returned to the reservation, marking a somber chapter in their history.
In the years following the Bannock War, the population of the Bannock Tribe at Fort Hall gradually increased, reaching 422 by 1885 and 513 by 1901. However, the increasing intermarriage and cultural assimilation with the Shoshone made it difficult to maintain a separate count of the Bannock population. Furthermore, the original treaty of 1868, intended to secure the Bannock Tribe’s land rights, was gradually eroded by the encroachment of white settlers. Between 1868 and 1932, the reservation land allocated to the Bannock and Shoshone was reduced by more than two-thirds, shrinking from 1.8 million acres to a mere 544,000 acres, a stark illustration of the pressures faced by Native American tribes during this period.
Today, a significant portion of the Bannock Tribe continues to reside on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in southeastern Idaho, coexisting with the Lemhi and Northern Shoshone Indians. The tribal government offices and most tribal business enterprises are strategically located eight miles north of Pocatello, Idaho, in Fort Hall. The reservation itself is geographically situated between the cities of Pocatello, American Falls, and Blackfoot, and is divided into five distinct districts: Fort Hall, Lincoln Creek, Ross Fork, Gibson, and Bannock Creek. Over 70 percent of the tribes’ approximately 5,300 enrolled tribal members still call the reservation home, and an impressive 96% of the land remains under tribal and individual Indian ownership, demonstrating a strong commitment to preserving their ancestral heritage.
The Fort Hall Indian Reservation serves as a vital economic engine for the region, employing nearly 1,000 Native and non-Native individuals in a variety of trades. The tribal government is a major employer, providing nearly 600 jobs, while additional employment opportunities exist in individual enterprises and the gaming industry. The tribal government is actively focused on fostering economic development and ensuring the protection and enhancement of the reservation land base for future generations, demonstrating a forward-looking approach to tribal governance.
The historical significance of the region is further underscored by the presence of the ruins of the original Fort Hall, a reminder of the complex interactions between Native American tribes and European-American settlers. The community of Fort Hall, located along Interstate 15, serves as the largest population center on the reservation, a testament to the enduring presence of the Bannock Tribe in their ancestral homeland.
The Bannock Tribe, despite facing numerous challenges throughout their history, has demonstrated resilience and a steadfast commitment to preserving their cultural heritage and securing a prosperous future for their people.