Figure 1.--The Bannock were a tribe in ghe northern Plateau area, closely related to the Piute and Shoshone. They were hunter gathers in a relatively resource-poor area. They relid heavily on the salmonn seasonally along the Snake River and nce they acquired horses the buffalo. The destruction of the huge bufflo heards in the late-19th century as with he Plains tribes, ended a way of life. They eventually mrged wuth the Shoshone. Notice the papoose back carrier.

The Bannock are a realtively small tribe closely asociated with the Northern Paiute. Both are tribes of the Plateau or Great Basin cultural area. Thet inhabited wgat is now southeastern Oregon, southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southwestern Montana. They traded and lived in small bands, generally peacefully with other Numic-speaking tribes such as the Shoshone in the area. Like other tribes in the Plains and Plateau area, their culture change fundamentally with the acquisitin of horses (mid-18th century). They traded extensively with the Nez Perce. Horses were a particularly valuable part of that trade. They made some pottery, but basket work was more important. They also nade utensils from mountain sheep horns as well as carrying bags from salmon skin. With the introduction of glass beads as trade goods, they transferred their traditional geometric design to beadwork. They made tule reed rafts to cross rivers. The economy ficused heacvily on seasonal activities, fishing for salmon on the Snake River in Idaho and in the fall with the acquisition of horses they hunted buffalo. Buffalo hides were used fot tipis and clothing. The Bannock War was their last attempt to resist American encroachment (1878). The Bannock were forcibly moved onto the Fort Hall Indian Reservation with the Northern Shoshone. There was substantial shared cultural traditions. They had separate, but related languages. Gradually the tribes merged and are today known as the Shoshone-Bannock.

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Created: 5:57 AM 11/14/2013
Last updated: 5:57 AM 11/14/2013