Legacy of Chief Washakie showcased in Summit County public art exhibit

Photo: Summit County Public Art Advisory Board

PARK CITY, Utah — Chief Washakie’s legacy will be honored with a traveling exhibit opening this month in Summit County. Brought to the area by the Summit County Public Art Advisory Board, the exhibit, on loan from the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center, supported by RAP grant funding, celebrates the Eastern Shoshone leader who devoted his life to protecting his people and their traditions.

Central to the grand opening reception on Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. at the Kamas Valley Branch Library is Lucie Washakie, Chief Washakie’s descendant, who has been a vocal advocate for honoring her family’s legacy. “For me, it’s always an honor, and our family is honored, too. It’s our ancestors, you know, and it’s them that’s here, keeping things going,” Washakie said. “I always say, ‘We’re still here.’ Chief Washakie was an honorable person, protecting his people, and this exhibit helps keep that story alive.”

Lucie will be joined at the reception by her granddaughter, Feather, who will perform a traditional Eastern Shoshone jingle dress dance. The dress, decorated with rows of metal cones that create a rhythmic sound as she moves, carries special significance. “Feather will be wearing her jingle dress, which is a prayer dance dress,” Lucie shared. “That dance came from a man who dreamed about it for his sick granddaughter. It’s about healing, which I’m proud to pass on to Feather, so she can be proud and dance for our people.”

Lucie’s journey to connect with her Shoshone roots has been deeply personal, shaped by her childhood in foster care. “I grew up away from my culture, but now I’m all in,” she said. This is for my grandchildren and my children—so they can be proud, and so we can keep our heritage alive.”

Also present at the exhibit’s opening will be NaVee Vernon, former Summit County Historian and recent author of a book on Chief Washakie’s life and legacy. Vernon’s work further enriches the exhibit’s offering by providing historical insights and personal stories.

Chief Washakie, a respected leader of the Shoshone-Bannock tribe, was known for his commitment to education, often saying it was “the weapon” his people needed. “He knew it long ago, and that’s what he believed — that education was the key to survival,” Washakie reflected. “Education is everything. It’s what no one can take from us. Chief Washakie knew this long ago, and we’re still learning today — we’re all still learning.”

The exhibit’s arrival in Summit County not only honors Chief Washakie’s legacy but also provides a valuable opportunity for the public to gain insight into the history of the Eastern Shoshone people. Maureen Lahey, chair of the Advisory Board, discovered the exhibit online and was immediately inspired to bring it to Summit County, a region closely tied to Chief Washakie’s story.