By JOSEPH WADSWORTH
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Waapi Kani Mental Wellness & Recovery Services hosted the Winter Smudge December 12, at the Shoshone-Bannock Delbert Farmer Festival arbor grounds with the theme “Honoring Our Children.”

Derrick Tinno Jr., a 12-year-old, was asked by Waapi Kani Cedar House staff to give prayers to the community and he spoke after the smudging that he felt good “I felt surprised to be asked was a step up for me.” (cont.)

By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Office of Public Affairs
POCATELLO — Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Lee Juan Tendoy offered the blessing at the Idaho State University Winter Commencement on Saturday, December 14.

ISU President Dr. Robert W. Wagner gave a land acknowledgment expressing gratitude to the land and the original caretakers of it. (cont.)

By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Office of Public Affairs
FORT HALL — The Fort Hall Business Council attended the screening of “Idaho Supports Medicaid: In Our Words” on Thursday, December 5.

The short film shares stories of Idahoans whose lives have been transformed by Medicaid expansion, showcasing how access to healthcare is saving lives and strengthening communities. Two familiar faces on screen are Nancy Wahtomy, Patient Navigator for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Patrick Murillo, Shoshone-Bannock tribal member and Medicaid enrollee. (cont.)

By BREE BAKER
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — On December 10, the Land Use Range Program had a Range Inventory update at the Shoshone-Bannock Event Center for permittees. (cont.)

By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Office of Public Affairs
WASHINGTON D.C. — Throughout his term, President Biden was dedicated to strengthening the Nation-to-Nation relationship by hosting Tribal leaders at his fourth and final 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit on December 9 at the Department of the Interior.

The White House Tribal Nations Summit started with the Obama Administration and didn’t happen under Trump. The event allows the administration to meet with tribal leaders from the 574 federally recognized tribes, hear issues in Indian Country, and work towards improvement. (cont.)

By BREE BAKER
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — On December 4, two digital artists Curtis and Meka Hevewah were recognized and rewarded for their artwork that was chosen to be featured on the sweatshirts for the Tribal Broadband Bootcamp (TBB).

The Inland Northwest Tribal Broadband Coalition (INTBC) consists of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Colville Tribe, Nez Perce Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and Spokane Tribe. They co-hosted the Tribal Broadband Bootcamp 15 from November 18-21, in Spokane, Wash.

By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Local Shoshone-Bannock youth learned how to do the chokecherry dance, along with the shake dance and buffalo dance December 8 at Timbee Hall with Gifferd Osborne instructing.

Osborne explained to the boys who turned out to participate, the three ceremonial dances must be done together with the shake dance first, then the buffalo dance followed by the chokecherry or feast dance. The dances are generally done in the winter – the shake dance mimics the sage grouse, while the buffalo dance is similar to the way the buffalo moves, at times pawing and the feast or chokecherry dance is prayers for renewal. There are specific songs for each dance and there not intended for powwows, they’re ceremonial, he emphasized. (cont.)

By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Office of Public Affairs
FORT HALL — The Fort Hall Business Council hired Daniel Stone as the new Executive Director for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and he began on December 2.

Stone is a Shoshone-Bannock Tribal member and resides in the Gibson District with his wife and son.

He graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1997, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Idaho State University in 2004, and graduated the University of Idaho College of Law in 2007 with an emphasis in Natural Resource and Indian Law.

Stone has worked for 16 years collectively within the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, including being the Fish and Wildlife Policy Analyst where he supported efforts in salmon recovery, wildlife management, and habitat conservation. (cont.)