Today, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes recognize Fort Bridger Treaty Day, commemorating the signing of the Fort Bridger Treaty on July 3, 1868, by the Shoshone-Bannock and Eastern Shoshone Tribes and the United States. The treaty was ratified by the United States Senate on February 26, 1869, and proclaimed on February 24, 1869, formally bringing it into force as a binding agreement between sovereign Nations.
The Fort Bridger Treaty remains a living agreement between sovereign Nations. It affirmed peace, established the Wind River Reservation for the Eastern Shoshone, provided for a future Bannock Reservation in the Portneuf and Camas Prairie country, and recognized the Tribes’ right to continue hunting on unoccupied lands so long as game remained and peace existed. The treaty did not create these rights, it acknowledged rights our ancestors had always exercised and recognized the enduring relationship between our people and our ancestral homelands. Although the treaty called for a Bannock Reservation, that reservation was never established. Instead, in 1869, the Bannock people were relocated to the Fort Hall Reservation, where they joined with the Shoshone.
Together, they became the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, whose history, identity, and government continue to reflect the strength and resilience of both Nations. Fort Bridger Treaty Day is a time to honor the wisdom, leadership, and sacrifices of our ancestors, whose decisions continue to shape our future. It reminds us that treaty rights are not relics of the past, they remain the supreme law of the land and continue to protect our sovereignty, our connection to our homelands, and our responsibility to preserve our culture, lands, waters, and way of life for generations to come.
As we commemorate Fort Bridger Treaty Day, we honor the legacy of our ancestors and reaffirm our commitment to upholding the promises and responsibilities embodied in the Fort Bridger Treaty. Their vision and resilience continue
to guide us as we protect our sovereignty and preserve our heritage for future generations.