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Elizabeth “Liz” Dann addresses students at the Shoshone Community Language Initiative (SCLI) program at Great Basin College. She starts her presentation by offering a prayer, and then speaks about the importance of our traditions. She also speaks about giving her grandson an eagle feather, medicine bag, and other items while he was in the war. She also gives advice to the women about women, especially during ceremonies. Her daughter Sandy Dann speaks about her experience with the Sundance and what it consist of. Liz then speaks about making cradle boards, preparing hides, and tells some of the traditional Shoshone stories.
Presented at the 2017 Shoshone Community Language Initiative summer youth program (SCLI 17).
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Boyd Graham addresses students at the Shoshone Community Language Initiative (SCLI) program at Great Basin College. Boyd Graham begins his address by introducing himself to the students, and then he speaks about how there are different dialects among the Shoshone. Afterward, he begins giving a lesson on the Shoshone language which includes going over greetings, different types of animals, different writing styles, verb and consonants, and how different relatives are addressed within the Shoshonean language.
Presented at the 2017 Shoshone Community Language Initiative summer youth program (SCLI 17).
Shawn L. Collins addresses students at the Shoshone Community Language Initiative (SCLI) program at Great Basin College. Shawn L. Collins is a Western Shoshone from the South Fork area. He tells some of the stories of the Shoshone, about traditions such as tanning and hunting, and he also speaks about how the Western Shoshone viewed and interacted with the world. He elaborates about whirlwinds, old animals (no longer exist), and water babies. He gives an overall explanatory talk about the heritage and traditions of the Western Shoshones. He also warns the younger generation not to brag because it’s against the traditional Shoshone lifeway.
Presented at the 2017 Shoshone Community Language Initiative summer youth program (SCLI 17).
Katherine Blossom addresses students at the Shoshone Community Language Initiative (SCLI) program at Great Basin College. Katherine Blossom begins her discussion by describing the benefits of learning the language. She speaks about how her mother and others were punished at boarding schools for speaking their native language, and as a result she was denied the opportunity to learn it growing up. She then goes on to sing a song on the hand drum. Afterward, she begins to speak about the different native plants and other materials that traditional Western Shoshones would use.
Presented at the 2017 Shoshone Community Language Initiative summer youth program (SCLI 17).
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]]>Alfred Jackson addresses students at the Shoshone Community Language Initiative (SCLI) program at Great Basin College. Alfred Jackson speaks about the decay of the Shoshone culture, but also speaks about the steps necessary to preserve such a unique culture. He also speaks about his experiences growing up in the area, as well as how language is important in keeping up the traditions and values within the Shoshonean culture. He also tells the students about his experience Sun Dancing at different areas within and outside of the Great Basin region.
Presented at the 2017 Shoshone Community Language Initiative summer youth program (SCLI 17).
Transcript pending
Dennis F. Pete, Sr. was born at the Duck Valley Reservation (Owyhee, NV-ID) to Bessie and Alec Cleveland. He went to school in Owyhee also at the Swayne School where he would play basketball and football. Later in life he got married and moved to Pyramid Lake where he lived for 39 years. He currently lives in Owyhee. Dennis then addresses the hand games and how hand games are played, moreover he talks about some of the places he has traveled to attend hand games. He then plays a few circle dance songs for his audience.
Full Video Video pendingVirginia Jones is a Shoshone-Paiute from the Duck Valley reservation. She begins her oral history by describing the different types of drums that she currently own and how they are used in powwows, hand games, or circle dancing. She also tells us about how she got interested in drumming along with those individuals which taught her drumming through the years. This also included how to take care of your drum when traveling to different events, and moreover how different materials can create different sounds with the drum.
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]]>Virginia Mae Jones from Duck Valley reservation (Owyhee, NV) goes over the hand drum at Great Basin College on February 27, 2012. She sings a few traditional songs to the audience while playing her hand drum. She also speaks about individuals who inspired her to begin hand drumming herself, as well as those individuals who passed her songs of their own. She also speaks about the difference between traditional versus contemporary practices that have surfaced recently within powwows and other gatherings or doings.
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Katherine Blossom is a Western Shoshone from Elko, NV. She begins her presentation speaking about how Native Americans have adapted to the land, and that it was the Native Americans duty to pray for all things that exist within this universe. She also speaks about the hardships and horrors that the Western Shoshone people went through in boarding school which included losing their native language – usually by forceful means. As she continues she speaks about the importance of prayer. She also educated her audience about the type of natural plants, herbs, and other items that were used by the indigenous groups in and around the Great Basin region. Katherine also recalls some personal experiences that she has gone through which she shares with her audience.
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