Historical Life Ways of the Wuda Ogwa (Bear River)

 

On November 20, 2024, Vice Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, Brad Parry, presented preliminary research findings at the Salt Lake County Watershed Symposium on “Historical Life Ways of the Wuda Ogwa (Bear River)”

Presenter:

Brad Parry

Abstract:

The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation has lived in the Bear River Watershed for over 13,000 years. The Bear River was the most important resources to our ancestors. It gave life. It was abundant with game, wetlands, drinking water, fish, and was a trail system for our people, and it always flowed into the Great Salt Lake. We would like to discuss our Tribal History of the Bear River and how we used it historically, how we used the Great Salt Lake, and how the depletion of these resources would be catastrophic to every in the Wasatch Front. We want to discuss food we used, grounds we farmed, and all the native plants that existed and how losing them is causing us to lose the river and a depletion in the Great Salt Lake. It'll be a native walking experience of the Bear River.