This Land is Whose Land?
By examining the controversy surrounding the shrinking of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, this film explores the larger question of public lands of the Western States.
The Sheep Eaters
The Sheep Eaters is a four-part series, with each part running slightly less than 30 minutes.
The spectacular Wind River Mountain Range of northwest Wyoming was once home to this little known but fascinating band of Shoshone Indians known as the Duku Dika, or Sheep Eaters. In their day they were the most successful hunters of North America’s wild sheep, the majestic Rocky Mountain ‘big horns’.
Shelters & Petroglyphs
Living in the high mountain areas stretching through Yellowstone and the Wind River Mountain range, their natural isolation allowed the Sheep Eaters to survive as if untouched by time. While many tribal groups underwent a dramatic evolution beginning with the introduction of horses by the Spaniards, the Sheep Eaters maintained their Stone Age customs. They remained a nomadic tribe following the migrating Big Horn Sheep to the same areas each year. They utilized caves and cliff overhangs for shelter, only building wood-pole structures – known as wickiups – in high mountain meadows or alpine forest when no natural shelter was readily available.
The Sheep Eaters were revered as spiritual healers, because of their connection to the high mountains. Many of the examples of rock art found in the greater Yellowstone area are attributed to them. Of all the clues left by the Sheep Eaters, perhaps the petroglyphs are the most fascinating evidence we have of these remarkable people.
Hunting & Fishing
Scattered throughout the region once roamed by both Big Horn Sheep and the Sheep Eater Indians are the remains of the wooden traps they used for harvesting sheep. These wooden structures are between 200-500 years old and consist of a set of drive lines that lead into a catch pen. Large rams horns are often found encased in trees near these corrals.
Dr. George Frison is a leading expert in prehistoric hunting, and he shows us one of these traps while explaining the spiritual significance of Native American hunting events.
These resourceful hunters survived through their knowledge of their prey. The remnants of sheep traps, hunting blinds and fishing weirs cover the territory the Sheep Eaters once roamed, providing a fitting testimony to this unique relationship of hunter to prey.
Trading & Tools
Renowned archaeologist Dr. Larry Loendorf explains the importance of the trading rendezvous in Native American culture. The Sheep Eaters brought many important resources from the high mountains to trade. They brought the Yellowstone obsidian used in making cutting tools and arrow points. There was also soapstone from which stone bowls were craved. The big horn sheep hides were valued for their warmth. And the bows they made from ram’s horns were highly prized by many tribes because of their superior power.
The resources of the high mountains were important to the survival of the Sheep Eaters, but these items were also valued by the tribes with whom they traded.
Plants & Minerals
The Sheep Eaters – like most other clans – relied heavily on the plants they could gather. They not only knew where to find these staples, but they also knew what time of year was best suited for harvest.
The plants the Sheep Eaters gathered are thought to have comprised about 60% of their dietary needs. The gathering of these native plants was essential for their survival. Many plants were also used medicinally or had ceremonial importance. Nomadic people are commonly known as hunters and gatherers – and here we examine how they harvested nature’s bounty.
Crow Creation Story
Part 1: Son of the Sun
(Part 1 of 4) This is the first part in a four part series of the Crow Creation Story. At the beginning of life on Earth, the Son of the Sun created land with mud from the bottom of the sea.
Part 2: All that Is
(Part 2 of 4) In this part of the story, after the Son of the Sun has created land with the help of a duck – the first two creatures come to life. The first is the wolf, who the Son of the Sun solicits to help him populate the land with animals. The second is the coyote, who the Son of the Sun realizes will cause mischief among the people. So, the Son of the Sun makes the duck the coyote’s nemesis, always trying to mitigate the damage he sets in motion.