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 pendingTheresa Sam is a Western Shoshone from the Duckwater Reservation, NV and is part of the Blackeye family. She begins her narrative by telling us how, when she was a teenager, she started going to school at Stewart. She then goes on to explain how the Duckwater Reservation started in 1942 and how people from Smoky Valley, Reese River, and Cherry Creek (where her family came from) came to the reservation. She then explains how she took part in the 1956 Relocation Act which landed her in Chicago and eventually became a nurse at Illinois Masonic Hospital. Theresa then speaks about the issues that occurred with the children of Duckwater and the local schools. Her and other members of the Duckwater community took action which resulted in the creation of the school at Duckwater Reservation.
Interviewed by Norm Cavanaugh
]]>Oral History Interview with Theresa Sam, Western Shoshone from Duckwater Reservation, NV on 03/18/2016
This oral history contains significant Shoshone language conversation, and is recommended for usage by community language teachers.
Theresa Sam is a Western Shoshone from the Duckwater Reservation, NV and is part of the Blackeye family. She begins her narrative by telling us how, when she was a teenager, she started going to school at Stewart. She then goes on to explain how the Duckwater Reservation started in 1942 and how people from Smoky Valley, Reese River, and Cherry Creek (where her family came from) came to the reservation. She then explains how she took part in the 1956 Relocation Act which landed her in Chicago and eventually became a nurse at Illinois Masonic Hospital. Theresa then speaks about the issues that occurred with the children of Duckwater and the local schools. Her and other members of the Duckwater community took action which resulted in the creation of the school at Duckwater Reservation.
Interviewed by Norm Cavanaugh
Ruby Sam was born at the Indian Hospital in Schurz, NV (Walker River Reservation) and had 9 siblings. Her father was Nelson Sam from Smoky Valley. Ruby lived and went to school in Duckwater, NV until the eighth grade then attended Stewart Indian School which eventually resulted in her attending school in Lund, NV at the behest of her father. As part of the 1956 Relocation Act, Ruby moved to Cleveland, OH and became a cosmologist. She eventually moved back to the Duckwater Reservation and had a variety of jobs within the tribe there. She ends her oral narrative by suggesting that the younger generation stay in and go to school.
Interviewed by Norm Cavanaugh.
]]>Oral History Interview with Ruby Sam, Western Shoshone from Duckwater Reservation, NV on 04/22/2016
This oral history contains significant Shoshone language conversation, and is recommended for usage by community language teachers.
Ruby Sam was born at the Indian Hospital in Schurz, NV (Walker River Reservation) and had 9 siblings. Her father was Nelson Sam from Smoky Valley. Ruby lived and went to school in Duckwater, NV until the eighth grade then attended Stewart Indian School which eventually resulted in her attending school in Lund, NV at the behest of her father. As part of the 1956 Relocation Act, Ruby moved to Cleveland, OH and became a cosmologist. She eventually moved back to the Duckwater Reservation and had a variety of jobs within the tribe there. She ends her oral narrative by suggesting that the younger generation stay in and go to school.
Interviewed by Norm Cavanaugh.
Keith Honaker was born at the Indian hospital in Schurz, NV in 1960. His grandmother’s family is part of the Blackeye family, and his grandfather’s family is part of the Sam family. He speaks about his experience as an Army brat, and how that contributed to his success later in life. He also tells of his childhood speaking mostly Shoshoni, how he would listen to elder’s storytelling, and how difficult or unique it was growing up on the Duckwater Reservation. He graduated from White Pine high school in Ely, NV, University of Nevada – Reno, NV with his Bachelor’s degree in teaching, and how he obtained his Master’s degree “out of necessity”. Keith also speaks about his time teaching at the reservation as well as in New York. Moreover, he tells his audience about the Relocation Act (1956) and the consequential creation of the American Indian Movement (AIM).
Delaine Spark Spilsbury and Laura Star Rainey are both Great Basin Shoshone from Ely, Nevada, part of the Western Shoshone. They began this oral history by speaking of their experiences going to grammar and high school as well as growing up during the Depression. They both spoke about the challenges of making a career in engineering while you’re a woman. They go one to speak about the traditions such as hunting and fishing that were practiced by Western Shoshone people. They also spoke about how their parents’ traditions were diffused by Stewart Indian School. The ended their stories by telling the audience about their sons up-bringing and speaking to the youth.