Native American Music Shoshone

The Shoshone Indians on the East and West of the Rocky Mountains were one in the same, but they were very different in the ways of life. They covered parts of California, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. The northern group of the Shoshone Indians were the Shoshoni. They had settled along the Snake River in Utah. The Western group, sometimes called the Panamint, lived in central Idaho, northwestern Utah, central Nevada, and in California around the Death and Panamint Valleys. The Eastern Shoshone's lived in northern Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana but had conflicts with the neighboring tribes. Around 1750, the eastern Shoshone Indian conflicts with the Lakota, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Arapahos, and Crow tribes shoved them southwest.

The introduction of the horse to the western Shoshone Indians in the 1700'smade life much easier for the tribe. They were able to hunt larger prey and starttrading. Although they were not afraid to fight, they stayed clear of their fierceenemies, the Pocatello and Crow Indians. The Treaty of Ruby Valley was a peacetreaty that was signed in 1863 granting the U.S. to establish permanent reservationsfor the western Shoshone Indians on their territory. It also allowed the governmentrights of way and mining rights with in the land.
Since Sacajawea's contact with Lewis and Clark the eastern Shoshone Indianswere friendly towards the Americans. They signed many treaties starting withthe commonly know Five State Treaty.
As the white settlers began moving up to the Great Salt Lake in 1862, they hadtaken over the Cache Valley. The Shoshone Indians of the north fought back byattacking the mining parties going to and from Montana and raiding the herds. Their aggression came to an end when Colonel Patrick Edward Connor leadthe attack known as the Bear River Massacre in late January 1863. At least 250Shoshone Indians were killed, leaving the rest to sign the Treaty of Box elderin order to bring peace to the nation.

Native American Indian, possibly Shoshone, these high top children’s moccasins are intricately constructed with delicate beadwork and fine tanned leather with great attention to detail. They were made in the late 19th century, possibly for the tourist trade, but more than likely to be worn by the Indian children at that time.

  1. The Shoshone Indians of the north fought back by attacking the mining parties going to and from Montana and raiding the herds. Their aggression came to an end when Colonel Patrick Edward Connor lead the attack known as the Bear River Massacre in late January 1863.
  2. The Shoshone are a Native American tribe, who originated in the western Great Basin and spread north and east into present-day Idaho and Wyoming. By 1500, some Eastern Shoshone had crossed the Rocky Mountains into the Great Plains.
  3. The Shoshone Indians were far-ranging people. Different bands of Shoshoni Indians lived in what is now Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, and even parts of California. Most Shoshone people still live in these areas today. How is the Shoshone Indian nation organized?

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Music plays an integral role in the daily life of Native Americans.

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Music plays an integral role in the life of Native Americans. It is used for ceremonial purposes, recreation, expression, and healing. There are many different instruments used when making Native American music, including drums, flutes, and other percussion instruments. Perhaps the most important element of their music is the voice.

Vocals are the backbone of the music made in Native American cultures. Unusual, irregular rhythms and a somewhat off-key style of singing is used. No harmony is ever incorporated, although sometimes many people sing at once, and other times the vocals are solo. The Native American vocals are passionate, used to invoke spirits, ask for rain or healing, or are used to heal the sick. In most cases, the men and women of the tribes sing separate songs, and have their own dances. The men typically dance around in a circle, while the women usually dance in place.


Many researchers feel that Native American music is some of the most complex ever performed. The tensing and releasing of the vocals combined with varying drum beats makes it a very intricate form of art. Another interesting item of note is that every region of the country where the Native Americans had settled produced greatly varying forms and sounds of music. With so many different tribes, the music produced is always unique to its specific group.


Generally, Eskimo music has been touted as being the most simple of all of the Native American music styles, while the Hopi, Pueblo, and Zuni tribes of the Southwestern part of the country have been known to produce much more complex sounding music. The emotion invoked from Native American music has been a great influence in modern folk music. In addition, tribal music is still very popular among music fans, and Native American CDs sell fairly well, even in today’s modern climate.

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