$25, includes transportation, a tour, and a box lunch. 

This tour is underwritten by the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation and the Hyrum City Museum.

Join Tribal Elder Rios Pacheco and Tribal Council Vice Chairman Brad Parry to travel to sites significant for the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. These two sites tell a connected story — of loss, survival, and renewal. First, we will travel north to Wuda Ogwa (Bear River), where tribal ancestors gathered each winter to camp and perform the Warm Dance. In the early hours of January 29, 1863, 240 soldiers led by Colonel Patrick Connor massacred more than 400 Shoshone men, women, and children at this site, in what is now known as the Bear River Massacre. In 1880, the surviving tribal members settled in Washakie, where they learned to dry-farm and cultivate a new life, navigating the changing landscape. 

In 2018, the tribe purchased 350 acres of its ancestral land along Wuda Ogwa and is now restoring the area. The multi-year plan includes replacing invasive vegetation with native plants, restoring natural wetlands, and creating an interpretive center to preserve the history of the Shoshone people and the importance of the land. It is estimated these changes will return over 10,000 acre-feet of water to the Great Salt Lake annually, contributing meaningfully to the ongoing effort to restore the lake's water levels. From there, we will travel south, following the path of the surviving tribal members to the Washakie Cemetery to hear more about how the tribe is actively preserving its history, language, and cultural knowledge for future generations.

Note: The bus ride between Salt Lake City and the sites is approximately 2 hours each way, offering ample time to connect with fellow attendees. This tour is entirely outdoors on open, unpaved terrain. Portions of the tour will be in rural sites with limited cell service. Portable restrooms are available at Wuda Ogwa. There are no facilities at Washakie, though the tour may include a stop at a nearby gas station. Attendees should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and layers. Long sleeves/pants, hats, sunglasses, and sunblock are recommended. The tour will proceed rain or shine.