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There were three major bands
of Northwestern Shoshone at the time the first Mormon pioneers
began settling northern Utah. Chief Little Soldier headed the
misnamed "Weber Ute" group of about 400, who occupied
Weber Valley down to its entry into the Great Salt Lake. Chief
Pocatello commanded a similar number of Shoshone, who ranged from
Grouse Creek in northwestern Utah eastward along the northern
shore of Great Salt Lake to the Bear River. The third division
of about 450 people, under Chief Bear Hunter, resided in Cache
Valley and along the lower reaches of the Bear River. Bear Hunter
was regarded as the principal leader of the Northwestern Shoshone,
being designated by Mormon settlers as the war chief who held
equal status with Washakie when the Eastern and Northwestern groups
met.
What became the Northwestern Band of Shoshone were parts of those
groups who traveled largely on foot living off the land in a delicate
balance. The expression So-so-goi means “Those Who Travel
on Foot,” this expression was used to describe the band.
The Northwestern Shoshone traveled with the changing season. They
looked upon the earth not just as a place to live; in fact, they
called the earth their mother—she was the provider of all
they needed for their livelihood. The mountains, streams, and
plains stood forever, they said, and the seasons walked around
annually. The So-so-goi believed all things came from Mother Earth. |
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