Lemhi Shoshone
Encyclopedia
The Lemhi Shoshone are a band of Northern Shoshone
, called the Akaitikka, Agaideka, or "Eaters of Salmon." The name "Lemhi" comes from Fort Lemhi
, a Mormon mission to this group. They traditionally lived in the Lemhi River
Valley and along the upper Salmon River
in Idaho
. Bands were very fluid and nomadic, and they often interacted with and intermarried other bands of Shoshone
and other tribes, such as the Bannock
. Today most of them are enrolled in the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation of Idaho.
.
Fishing is an important source of food, and salmon, trout, and perch were staples. Piñons, Pinus monophylla, and camas root, Camassia quamash are traditional vegetable foods for the Lemhi Shoshone. In the 19th century, buffalo
hunting provided meat, furs, hides, and other materials.
s and enemies of the Blackfeet
. The Lewis and Clark Expedition
encountered the Lemhi at the Three Forks of the Missouri River
in 1805. In the 1860s, Indian agents estimated the Lemhi population, which included Shoshone, Bannock, and Tukudeka (Sheepeaters), to be 1,200.
Tendoy was a prominent Lemhi chief in the mid-19th century. He was half-Shoshone and half-Bannock. He became the Lemhi's leading chief in 1863 after Tio-van-du-ah
was killed in Bannock County, Idaho
.
The Lemhi Reservation
, located along the Lemhi River, west of the Bitterroot Range
and north of the Lemhi Range was created in 1875 and terminated in 1907. The residents were moved to the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Robert Harry Lowie studied the band and published The Northern Shoshone, a monograph about them in 1909.
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
, called the Akaitikka, Agaideka, or "Eaters of Salmon." The name "Lemhi" comes from Fort Lemhi
Fort Lemhi
Fort Lemhi was a mission approximately two miles north of present-day Tendoy, Idaho, occupied by Mormon missionaries from 1855 to 1857....
, a Mormon mission to this group. They traditionally lived in the Lemhi River
Lemhi River
The Lemhi River is a river in Idaho in the United States. It is a tributary of the Salmon River, which in turn is tributary to the Snake River and Columbia River.-Course:...
Valley and along the upper Salmon River
Salmon River (Idaho)
The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is also known as The River of No Return. It flows for through central Idaho, draining and dropping more than between its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National...
in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Bands were very fluid and nomadic, and they often interacted with and intermarried other bands of Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
and other tribes, such as the Bannock
Bannock
Bannock has more than one meaning:* Bannock , a kind of bread, usually prepared by pan-frying* Bannock , a Native American people of what is now southeastern Oregon and western Idaho* Bannock County, Idaho* Bannock, Ohio...
. Today most of them are enrolled in the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation of Idaho.
Traditional culture
The Akaitikka are Numic speakers, speaking the Shoshone languageShoshone language
Shoshoni or Shoshone is a Native American language spoken by the Shoshone people. Principal dialects of Shoshoni include Western Shoshoni in Nevada, Gosiute in western Utah, Northern Shoshoni in southern Idaho and northern Utah, and Eastern Shoshoni in Wyoming.Shoshoni-speaking Native Americans...
.
Fishing is an important source of food, and salmon, trout, and perch were staples. Piñons, Pinus monophylla, and camas root, Camassia quamash are traditional vegetable foods for the Lemhi Shoshone. In the 19th century, buffalo
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
hunting provided meat, furs, hides, and other materials.
History
During the 19th century, the Lemhi Shoshone were allied with the FlatheadConfederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation are the Bitterroot Salish, Kootenai and Pend d'Oreilles Tribes. The Flatheads lived between the Cascade Mountains and Rocky Mountains. The Salish initially lived entirely east of the Continental Divide but established their...
s and enemies of the Blackfeet
Blackfeet
The Piegan Blackfeet are a tribe of Native Americans of the Algonquian language family based in Montana, having lived in this area since around 6,500 BC. Many members of the tribe live as part of the Blackfeet Nation in northwestern Montana, with population centered in Browning...
. The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
encountered the Lemhi at the Three Forks of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
in 1805. In the 1860s, Indian agents estimated the Lemhi population, which included Shoshone, Bannock, and Tukudeka (Sheepeaters), to be 1,200.
Tendoy was a prominent Lemhi chief in the mid-19th century. He was half-Shoshone and half-Bannock. He became the Lemhi's leading chief in 1863 after Tio-van-du-ah
Tio-van-du-ah
Tio-van-du-ah , who was often called Chief Snag, was a Shoshoni Chief in what is today known as the Lemhi Valley of Idaho. This area was so named by Mormon missionaries who established Fort Limhi in the area in 1855. Tio-van-du-ah joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints along with...
was killed in Bannock County, Idaho
Bannock County, Idaho
Bannock County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It was established in 1893 and named after the local Bannock tribe. It is part of the Pocatello, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Bannock and Power counties. As of the 2000 Census...
.
The Lemhi Reservation
Lemhi Reservation
The Lemhi Reservation was a United States Indian Reservation for the Lemhi Shoshone from 1875-1907. During almost all this time their main chief was Tendoy....
, located along the Lemhi River, west of the Bitterroot Range
Bitterroot Range
The Bitterroot Range runs along the border of Montana and Idaho in the northwestern United States. The range spans an area of 62,736 square kilometers and is named after the bitterroot , a small pink flower that is the state flower of Montana.- History :In 1805, the Corps of Discovery,...
and north of the Lemhi Range was created in 1875 and terminated in 1907. The residents were moved to the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Robert Harry Lowie studied the band and published The Northern Shoshone, a monograph about them in 1909.