Shoshone-Bannock tribal member Gwen Dupris walking along Highway 91 on Friday, July 3.
By DANA HERNANDEZ
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — On July 3, Shoshone-Bannock tribal member Gwen Dupris was observed participating in an “Honoring Treaties” walk along Highway 91 from the bridge at Blackfoot River to the Veteran’s Monument in Fort Hall.
Her walk was on the day the Tribes’ recognize the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868.
Dupris said it was a very hot walk and while she was walking cars were honking. She wore her regalia and carried a sign that read, “Honor Treaties” and when asked why she was walking, she stated, “I am walking to honor our veterans and our leaders.” Various tribal members posted pictures of Dupris walking alongside Highway 91, and it was stated on Facebook, that anyone who wanted to join Dupris was more than welcome to join her.
Gwen Dupris walks with a sign that reads "Honor Treaties."
Additionally, in a video Sho-Ban News Videographer Joseph Wadsworth created, Dupris said she’s walking to honor our Native chiefs and warriors and asked current warriors to stand up and have the government honor their treaties, because they have not honored one treaty with the tribes and that it is time to put a stop to it.
Dupris also said, “we don’t have any leaders and have to be our own and lead ourselves… That is why I am doing this for my people because we want to live.”
She noted “it’s time for us to put a stop to this raping of our planet.”