Remembering the Bear River Massacre
On January 29, 1863, one of the bloodiest massacres of Native Americans in U.S. history happened less than 30 miles from USU. It resulted in the deaths of an estimated 450 Shoshone men, women and children. It is known as the Bear River Massacre.
Modern-day USU students and members of the Shoshone tribe gathered on Tuesday in the TSC to reflect on the carnage of the Bear River Massacre for the 153rd anniversary of the killings.
Shoshone tribal member and USU anthropology senior Jason Brough gave a presentation about the history of the tribe.
He said Mormon settlers came to Utah with the presumption that the area was unclaimed. But that attitude blatantly disregarded the Native Americans who came before the pioneers. When the settlers were sent to live in Northern Utah, the Shoshones welcomed them with open arms. Brough said they showed them the best fishing and hunting places because there was enough land resources for everyone at the time. The Native Americans and the Mormons lived in harmony for a time — but the peace didn’t last.
Tensions began to rise between the Native Americans and the Mormons all over the Utah territory as more people moved west. Mormons moved into the area of the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Indians. Resources were rapidly being used: streams were being rerouted, the settlers’ cows began grazing the sacred Shoshone roots and the Mormons began killing off the buffalo, which was a main staple for the Native Americans. This led to the starvation of many Shoshone people.
In return, the Shoshones began taking the settlers’ horses and food supply. Tension continued to rise between the Mormons and the Shoshone people. This resulted in a few skirmishes over stolen horses.
Brough said the Shoshone people were backed against a corner. They could either choose to starve or fight back.
“They didn’t want war,” he said. “Who wants war? War is dangerous.”
On January 29, 1863 the Shoshones were gathered at a hot springs near the Bear River to practice the warm dance, which is a prayer to the creator.
The U.S. 3rd California Volunteer Infantry, sent to take care of the Shoshone problem, was led by Col. Patrick Connor.
The Shoshone chief, Bear Hunter, tried to talk to them and reason with them.
“We just wanted to be left alone and live the way creator wanted us to live,” Brough said.
But Col. Connor was beyond reason. Everything changed when the regiment attacked.
The Shoshones were defeated. They only used guns for hunting and bows and arrows, so their armaments couldn’t hold up against the regiment’s more up-to-date guns. Up to 450 people were killed, including the revered Bear Hunter.
“The one thing the whites feared the most from us was not our guns, it was our spirituality,” Brough said.
The current chairman of the Northwestern Band of Shoshone, Darren Perry, said history is about perspective.
“The Massacre at Bear River was a horrible and horrific event, but it doesn’t define who we are today,” he said. “We have forgiven, but we never forget.”
Tyra Hardin, a freshman studying family consumer and human development, said the majority of people she encounters don’t understand what the Shoshone people went through. She said they perceive that she’s been given a free ride to college.
“That is all they see,” she said. “They don’t see anything past that.”
Utah State University is on Shoshone land. In fact, Old Main Hill and the hill where the Logan Temple are located are sacred Shoshone locations. That was, of course, before Mormon pioneers began to crowd-out the native settlers who came before them. Regardless, Brough said it will always be considered sacred land.
“You talk about heaven,” he said. “Well, this is our heaven. We are not going to leave it.”
@morganprobinson