Edith and Adele Fisk are Western Shoshone from Battle Mountain, NV and are currently residing in Elko, NV. Edith and Adele speak about the history of Battle Mountain while they were growing up. They speak about their families and what it was like growing up in a segregated town. For instance, they spoke about how trivial it was speaking a different language at home versus at school. Although, they do speak about how their teacher watched over them like a parent. They also recall their parents’ and grandparents’ stories which referred to contact between the Western Shoshone, emigrants, and U.S. Calvary soldiers as well as the traditional Shoshone tales. They also speak about their genealogy as well as how contact has contributed to the degradation of the Western Shoshonean culture and how doing oral histories and recording stories will help younger generations keep up the Shoshonean culture.
Video pendingIllain Tybo Premo was born to Ada Cortez Johnson and Cortez Charlie who were from the Beowawe/Cortez area. Her ancestors came from Smoky Valley and the Austin area. During her childhood she speaks about moving all around Western Shoshone territory to places such as Elko, Battle Mountain, and South Fork. She speaks about living in both Battle Mountain and South Fork reservation. She also speaks about her grandmother Minnie, who was a medicine woman, who lived in Battle Mountain and taught Illain traditional lifeways of the Shoshone. She was taught traditions such as picking nuts and berries, hunting deer and rabbit, using traditional medicines, and getting up early and doing chores. She also speaks about attending Stewart Indian School after 8th grade. She also tells us a few Shoshone stories including the Toya Deanapa (Mountain boy), Tso’ovich (stone man), and ba’a wa’a (water-babies). She ends her narrative by cautioning the younger generations about using alcohol and drugs.
Video pendingElizabeth “Liz” Brady was born in Elko, NV between the Elko Smoke Shop and I-80 where the old Elko Senior Citizens Center was located. Her father’s name was Sontag Jackson whose grandparents were from the Austin area and were part of the Dubba Diccada. Her mother was Mary Horton who belonged to the Dosa Wihi near Battle Mountain, NV. Liz talks about how she grew up around ranches while her father ran mustangs. She speaks about her experience going to Battle Mountain for grammar school, and her experience at Stewart Indian School where she was punished for speaking her language. She also speaks about how her grandfather partook in contact with the emigrants and their wagons. She also speaks about growing up in tzsogogotti (Antelope Valley) and how her family was ran out of the area. She also tells the audience about the history of Elko including the start-up of a lot of the old businesses including who ran them. She also speaks about living on the outskirts of Battle Mountain and the diseases impacting the Shoshone there.
Video pendingClara Woodson was born in Battle Mountain. She tells us about her family and who they worked for, how they lived, and what traditions that they had. She describes the sociopolitical setup of the Great Basin region in relation to Chief Te-Moak and Tutuwa. She illustrates how her grandfather still used wagons and horses to get his supplies. She also explains what type of traditional food that they hunted and gathered. Gracie Begay was born in Austin where her family lived. She tells us of her families experience with school, and when the soldiers came into the area. They both tell us about where and how they lived in Battle Mountain. They also speak of some of the traditional Shoshone stories such as Coyote and the Hand game.
Interviewed by Joe Doucette for the Great Basin Indian Archive
Oral History interview with Clara Woodson and Gracie Begay, Western Shoshone from Elko and Wells, NV on 16 March 2006.
Clara Woodson was born in Battle Mountain. She tells us about her family and who they worked for, how they lived, and what traditions that they had. She describes the sociopolitical setup of the Great Basin region in relation to Chief Te-Moak and Tutuwa. She illustrates how her grandfather still used wagons and horses to get his supplies. She also explains what type of traditional food that they hunted and gathered. Gracie Begay was born in Austin where her family lived. She tells us of her families experience with school, and when the soldiers came into the area. They both tell us about where and how they lived in Battle Mountain. They also speak of some of the traditional Shoshone stories such as Coyote and the Hand game.
Interviewed by Joe Doucette for the Great Basin Indian Archive
Earl and Beverly Crum speak about the different types of traditional Shoshone songs sung during different ceremonies and events. They speak about how songs are more than just a melody but include a story and sometimes a moral. They also talk about how the language is put together and how it is culturally significant. Earl and Beverly also tell about the customs of the Shoshone Bear dance and hand games as well as provide a tale explaining the hand game: Coyote and the hand game. They play an array of traditional Shoshone songs. Earl describes his childhood in Battle Mountain, Nevada during the Great Depression.
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Read Ronnie Dixon Oral History Transcript [pdf file]
Ronnie Dixon is a Western Shoshone from the Battle Mountain Band, born and delivered by his grandmother on the Battle Mountain Colony, and was raised in Battle Mountain. He was also raised by his grandmother and grandfather. He tells us about the history of his grandparents, and how he went to school with his sisters and friends. Ronnie then goes on to tell about his times drinking, being a cowboy with his father, and how he was drafted into the Army during Vietnam. He tells us about his time in the Military. And then goes on to tell of his job in Owyhee as a Substance Abuse counselor, and his philosophy around spirituality and drinking.
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Read Ronnie Dixon Oral History Transcript [pdf file]
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Read Georgianna Price Oral History Transcript [pdf file]
Georgianna Price is a Western Shoshone from Battle Mountain, part of the Te-Moak Tribe. Georgianna begins her oral history by highlighting her time growing up and going to school in Battle Mountain. She speaks about the Battle Mountain camp, and how it came to be. She then goes into her family lineage describing traditions among Western Shoshones and history of Battle Mountain. Price then goes on to tell the audience about some Shoshone tales told to her. She ends her discussion by giving details of raising her kids while she was cooking for the buckaroos around Battle Mountain, and she also addresses younger audiences encouraging them to go to school.
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Gracie Begay is a member of the Western Shoshone Te-Moak tribe in Wells, Nevada. She was seventy-eight when this video was recorded. Gracie speaks of her great-great-grandfather Captain Joe Gilbert and the people from Austin and Reese River (Yomba) who were moved by the Union Soldiers to the Battle Mountain colony in 1937. She also tells of the camp that was at the Ricksie station near Beowawe, and how she and her relatives went to school there. Gracie also goes on to tell about her involvement with the Danns, and how she went with them to the Supreme Court in Washington D.C. She goes on to tell of the history of her family, and how she was involved with Indian Health Service and the Health Board for the Western Shoshone. She ends by summarizing the importance of recording Shoshone history, and how it is a tool for future generations.
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