Sho-Ban elder alleges Boise man hit her at Camas Prairie
Camas County Sheriff respond to the May 29 incident.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
CAMAS PRAIRIE MARSH — Shoshone-Bannock tribal elder Zelphia Towersap had to file a complaint with the Camas County Sheriff after a white male hit her at the Camas Prairie on May 29 while she was gathering camas.
The white male was reportedly telling Zelphia she was doing illegal things out at the Camas Prairie marsh near Fairfield while digging the traditional roots in the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes original homeland.
The Camas Prairie was originally included in the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868 but a stenographer error spelled it “Kansas Prairie” resulting it not being included. Tribal members still return there every year to obtain the pasigo or camas roots.
Marilyn Dawes, Zelphia’s niece, said she was returning from the restroom and was driving towards Zelphia and what she saw was a guy taking pictures. Zelphia was standing facing him and to her she looked as if Zelphia was posing for a photo. However as Marilyn got closer, the man was telling Zelphia that what she was doing was illegal. As Marilyn arrived the man was headed to his car, “I didn’t know what was going on but Zelphia said he hit her and pointed to her chest.” Marilyn said she turned around and asked the man did you hit her? He replied you’re doing illegal things. “I told him that’s our custom and he got into his car and drove to the island.”
Marilyn said afterward they remained where they were and Yvette Towersap called Tribal Fish and Game who in turn called the Camas County Sheriff’s office. They filed a statement with the sheriff. The man was reportedly from Boise.
Marilyn said when they were getting ready to leave the marsh a couple of ladies came over from Fairfield and they advised them they weren’t doing illegal things. “We’ve never had that happen before, people usually just take pictures and ask what are you doing – no one ever confronted us like that.”
She wrote in her statement the fact the Camas Prairie was originally in the Tribes Fort Bridger Treaty.
