Wind River Indian Reservation

The Wind River Indian Reservation

Wyoming’s Wind River Country is home to the seventh largest Indian reservation in the country. Encompassing more than 2.2 million acres, the Wind River Indian Reservation is home to the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho tribes. Visitors to the area can go to powwows and museums to learn more about the local culture, or can recreate on thousands of acres of vast, unspoiled reservation lands (with a special permit).

Take a peek into history through the TravelStorys Wind River Indian Reservation audio tour. During this tour you’ll visit significant sites such as Sacajawea’s gravesite, while enjoying the beauty of the reservation and hearing stories told by the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho. The route follows Highways 287 and 26, passing through the communities of Ethete, Fort Washakie and Riverton.

This narrated tour is presented by the Wind River Visitors Council, the students at Fort Washakie High School with the support of the Fremont County School District #21 Board of Education and the Northern Arapaho Economic Development Commission.

Click here to view the TravelStorys Wind River Indian Reservation blog. To begin the tour, listen below or download the app.

Fort Washakie is the oldest community on the reservation. Originally called Fort Brown, the name was changed in 1878 to honor Chief Washakie, who negotiated the treaty establishing the reservation. The legendary Buffalo Soldiers-the name given to U.S. Cavalrymen of African descent-were stationed at Fort Washakie in the late 1800s. Today many of the original military buildings can be seen in the Fort Washakie Historic District.

Fort Washakie is home to the Shoshone Tribal Cultural Center and the cemeteries where both Chief Washakie and Lewis and Clark’s Shoshone guide, Sacajawea, are buried. Located at the Frank B. Wise Business Center, The Path of Honor Wind River Veterans Memorial is a tribute to all military service members and Veterans who live within the boundaries of the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. There are also a number of trading posts and gift stores that specialize in locally made Indian artwork, including hand-tanned leather goods, beadwork and drums. Learn more about the Eastern Shoshone people here.

Ethete and St. Stephens are the centers of Arapaho culture on the reservation. The Heritage Center at St. Stephens Indian Mission and the Arapaho Cultural Museum in Ethete both provide insight into the tribe and its traditions. You can also buy local Native American crafts and beadwork at the St. Stephens Art Center. Learn more about the Northern Arapaho people here.

Explore the Wind River Indian Reservation on this driving tour.

Powwows offer one of the best ways to learn about life on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Open to the public, these gatherings occur throughout the summer. Powwows are dance contests and celebrations. Tribal members go to meet friends, dance, catch up on the news and honor the past. Each of the reservation communities host powwows.