Fort Hall Indian Reservation

[[File:Grain elevator on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in southeastern Idaho.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Grain elevator on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation]] The Fort Hall Indian Reservation is an [[Indian reservation]] of the federally recognized [[Shoshone]]-[[Bannock (tribe)|Bannock]] Tribes in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Idaho]]. It is located in southeastern Idaho on the [[Snake River Plain]] north of [[Pocatello, Idaho|Pocatello]], and comprises 814.874 sq mi (2,110.514 km²) of land area in four counties: [[Bingham County, Idaho|Bingham]], [[Power County, Idaho|Power]], [[Bannock County, Idaho|Bannock]], and [[Caribou County, Idaho|Caribou]] counties. Founded in 1868, it is named for [[Fort Hall]], a trading post that was an important stop along the [[Oregon Trail]] and [[California Trail]] in the middle 19th century. A monument on the reservation marks the former site of the fort. The community of [[Fort Hall, Idaho|Fort Hall]], along [[Interstate 15 in Idaho|Interstate 15]], is the largest population center on the reservation. The total population of the reservation was 5,762 at the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]]. There are more than 5,300 enrolled members in the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes; more than half reside on the Fort Hall Reservation. The tribes are governed by a seven-member elected council and maintain their own governmental services, including law enforcement, courts, social and health services and education.

History

The reservation was established by the [http://www.en.wikisource.org/wiki/Fort_Bridger_Treaty_of_1868 Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868] between the United States and the Shoshone and Bannock tribes in the wake of the [[Bear River Massacre]] (1863). In the 1850s the Shoshone, led by [[Pocatello (Shoshone chief)|Chief Pocatello]], had attacked emigrant parties in part because the increasing tide of settlers was encroaching on their hunting grounds and game. The [[Mormon]]s, led by [[Brigham Young]], had subsequently pursued a policy of reconciliation with the Shoshone. In 1858, the arrival of the U.S. Army into the [[Utah Territory]] led to a full-scale conflict between the U.S. and the Shoshone. Colonel [[Patrick Edward Connor]] killed more than 400 [[Shoshone]] in present-day southeastern Idaho. The massacre was the culmination of a long struggle between the Shoshone and Bannock, and U.S settlers, which included numerous attacks by both sides. Connor led his troops from [[Fort Douglas (Utah)|Fort Douglas]] in January 1863 in order to "chastise" the Shoshone and killed more than 400 Shoshone of one band. Warned of Connor's advance, Pocatello led his people out of harm's way. Another chief and his band were attacked. Pocatello subsequently sued for peace and agreed to relocate his people to the newly established reservation along the [[Snake River]]. Four bands of Shoshone and the Bannock band of the [[Paiute]] relocated to the reservation, then consisting of {{convert|1.8|e6acre|km2}} of land. The U.S. government agreed to supply the Shoshone-Bannock annually with goods and supplies annuities worth 5,000 dollars. [[File:Houses in Fort Hall, Idaho on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Houses in the town of Fort Hall]] The reservation, located on the [[Great Plains]], was not appropriate for the model of subsistence agriculture which the government wanted the Shoshone-Bannock to adopt. In addition, the U.S. government often failed to provide the annuity goods on time and food supplies sometimes arrived spoiled. In the years following their relocation, the Shoshone-Bannock suffered severely from hunger and disease. Hoping to relieve his people's suffering, Pocatello led a small group to a [[missionary]] farm in the Utah Territory to receive mass [[Baptism (Latter Day Saints)|baptism]] and conversion to [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Mormonism]]. Although the Shoshone were baptized, the local settlers, primarily Mormon, agitated for the Indians' removal. The U.S. Army forced the Shoshone back onto the reservation. From 1868-1932, the reservation territory was reduced by two thirds due to encroachment of non-Native settlers and governmental actions to take land. For instance, under the [[Dawes Act]] of 1887, the government allocated individual plots of land to registered tribal households. It declared the remainder of the land "surplus" to Shoshone-Bannock needs, and sold much of it to European-American settlers. In 1934 the US Congress passed the [[Indian Reorganization Act]], created in part to end the allotment process, encourage tribes to re-establish self-government and to keep their land bases. In 1936 the tribes reorganized, wrote a constitution and established their own elected government. They have managed to retain most of their lands. Today, the tribes employ nearly 1,000 Native and non-Native people in various trades: 575 in tribal government, 85 by the enterprises and more than 300 by gaming, with a combined payroll of more than $32 million. The tribal government is building the tribes' economy and ensuring the protection and enhancement of the reservation landbase for generations to come. The main agricultural crops are [[wheat]] and [[potato]]es, with the value of crops produced on the reservation exceeding $75 million annually. The reservation is the site of the The Fort Hall Casino, and two smaller satellite casinos, all operated by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

Communities

*[[Arbon Valley, Idaho|Arbon Valley]] *[[Fort Hall, Idaho|Fort Hall]] *[[Pocatello, Idaho|Pocatello]] *[[Fort Dallele]]

External links

*[http://www.shoshonebannocktribes.com/ Shoshone-Bannock Tribes], Official Website