Passing down language central goal at 26th Annual Shoshonean Reunion
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes group attendees at the annual Shoshonean Reunion at the Wendover Enola Gay Airfield Hangar in Wendover, Utah on Wednesday, September 16.
By JEREMY SHAY
Sho-Ban News
WENDOVER, Utah — The 26th Annual Shoshonean Numic Language Reunion saw over 1,000 attendees register for the three-day event from September 13 to 16, hosted by the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation (CTGR) at the Wendover Enola Gay Airfield Hangar in Wendover, Utah, and on the Goshute Tribe Indian Reservation in Ibapah, Utah.
The Goshute Tribe marked the beginning of the annual gathering by hosting a reception for traveling attendees on Sunday, September 13 at the Nugget Wendover Hotel & Casino in West Wendover, Nev. with a sack dinner and history presentations by CTGR elder Virgil Johnson, and education department staff.
Sho-Ban tribal elder Darrell Shay gives the sunrise ceremony blessing on
September 16.
Attendees gathered on the morning of September 14 at the Wendover Airfield Hangar for a sunrise ceremony hosted by the Goshute Tribe.
After the breakfast served by CTGR, the flag ceremony was conducted featuring all participating tribal flags from Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Eastern Shoshone Tribe, Comanche Nation, Western Shoshone tribes, Northern Paiute and Ute tribes, and including military flags to start the reunion. Breakfast was served to guests.
Tribal member Dondie Howell receives 2nd place in the traditional singing
contest on September 15.
CTGR elder Virgil Johnson welcomed guests to the reunion, offered the prayer and introduced the Shoshonean Reunion Executive Board members.
Shoshone-Bannock tribal elder and Shoshonean Reunion board member Darrell Shay welcomed attendees. Shay talked about Eastern Shoshone tribal elder, the late John Wadda, who passed away in 2025, and how the board feels the loss, “This is the twenty-sixth annual reunion, we’ve been doing this for twenty-six years. This started as a group of us, Shoshone-Bannock, and Eastern Shoshone — we talked about bringing people together, and we knew that had to include the Comanches because they are a part of our Shoshonean language group. Those were the three base tribes that initially started coming together,” said Shay.
“The very first time we came together was in 2000 and since then, it’s grown — but that’s good, and the main reason we’re doing this: to keep our language alive — our language and our culture,” said Darrell Shay. “Each tribe has some differences in how they maintain their culture, and along with the traditions in each area. That’s what we try to get everybody to showcase here.”
Tribal member and Shoshonean Reunion board member Darla Morgan spoke about her personal history with volunteering at the annual event, “I was guided by one of my brothers, Delbert Farmer, now he’s gone, and he always said — you know, a reunion is successful if you get people together with like-thoughts, like-minds, just to sit and visit, and talk about things, and sing, and that brought a lot of our tribes together, our connection was the language,” said Morgan.
Morgan spoke about engaging future generations with language as one of the goals of the reunion, “Young people that are taking an interest educationally that want to save our language, preserve our language, and it’s going to be up to us, you know, speakers are going to be a big help to people like that.”
Tribal elders from each participating tribe gave an introduction to finish the opening remarks.
Local and visiting vendors set up outside of the Wendover Hangar for attendees to browse and patronize.
The afternoon sessions saw various workshops instructed by participating tribal members, including Shoshone language bingo by Darlene Graham, pine needle basket making by Roger Ike and Leah Brady, “1776 Before Wyoming” documentary screening by Lynette St. Clair, Goshute language by Virgil Johnson, and “Read To Me” Shoshone language books by Victoria Jackson and Alfred Jackson.
Reunion parade & showcases unite participating tribes
The Eastern Shoshone Tribe hosted the second-day sunrise ceremony at the Wendover Enola Gay Airfield Hangar to open the next day of activities on the morning of Tuesday, September 15.
Shoshone-Bannock tribal members participate in the annual Shoshonean Reunion parade on the Goshute reservation in Ibapah, Utah on Tuesday, September 15.
Eastern Shoshone tribal elder Arlen Shoyo gave the morning prayer. Fort Hall Business Council member Lee Juan Tendoy assisted with the prayer song.
A sack breakfast was served to attendees as they boarded shuttle buses for the day’s events, continuing at the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation in Ibapah, Utah.
Welcoming guests to the reservation powwow grounds was emcee Jerry Bear, with Goshute tribal members and representatives giving remarks as visitors gathered for the day’s events. Visiting and local vendors set-up at the grounds.
A youth education singing group comprised of local youth and educators from the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe sang a few songs for guests.
Tribal members from each of the participating Shoshonean Reunion tribes gathered for the annual parade, with the route directed through the central road on the reservation, ending in the powwow grounds dance arena where each float was given an introduction.
Shoshone-Bannock tribal members get ready for the parade on the Goshute Reservation.
Handgames were hosted for local and visiting handgamers — Shoshone-Bannock tribal members Jada Sam, Ambrea Sam and Preston Sam won the material game against Olo Cornpeach and Lilly Lang.
The afternoon activities included a variety of events — the Comanche Nation hosted a Gourd Dance presentation, followed by a Ute Bear Dance presentation by participating Ute tribes.
A box lunch was served to attendees and food vendors were set up at the powwow grounds.
A frybread contest saw several participating women compete for the top prize, next to the powwow arbor. Contestants had to build a fire for their cooking pan, make their frybread dough, and prepare twenty-five pieces for judging. First place was Northern Ute tribal member Naomi Perank-McCurdy, second place was Caroline Dick from Temoke Western Shoshone, and tied for third place was Cindy Badback and Veronica Lang, each from Ute Mountain tribes; Sho-Ban tribal member Wendy Farmer was the first contestant to complete the task, among the other contestants were Dreloni Garrity, Shoshone-Paiute and Deena Ute, Ute tribe.
A singing hand drum contest brought out various singers who each performed at the dance arbor. Youth first place was Jorge Samora from Elko, Nev. Adult winners were Sho-Ban tribal member Lee Juan Tendoy taking first place, second place was tribal member Dondie Howell from Fort Hall and third place was Comanche Nation member Morgan Tosee.
The afternoon concluded as the tribes flags were retired for the day, and visiting participants made the drive back to Wendover, ending the second day of events.
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes represent on final day
Sho-Ban tribal elders led the sunrise ceremony at the final day of the 2026 Shoshonean Reunion event at the Wendover Enola Gay Airfield Hangar on Wednesday, September 16.
Mario Anderson sports the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes seal T-Shirt on the final
sunrise ceremony on the morning of September 16.
Tribal elders Darrell Shay and Gary Watson greeted attendees and gave a prayer, followed by smudging. Local tribal member and other participating tribes singers came together to sing the prayer song for the sunrise ceremony.
The final day of events began with a breakfast was served for attendees by the Goshute Tribe, followed by the flag ceremony opening led by Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. A prayer by CTGR elder Virgil Johnson was given.
Following the morning introduction, activities moved to the Wendover High School track for a Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) walk to honor those who have been lost, hosted and organized by the Goshute Tribe.
After the MMIR walk, Sho-Ban tribal elder Michele Dann Hernandez hosted the annual Shinnyball game and traditional games for participants.
Reunion attendees participate in the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Walk on September 16.
Attendees of all ages came out to compete in friendly competition which included Shinny, shoe kick, Indian Horse Relay foot race, rock throw and rock juggling events.
Dann guided the girl participants through the rules of Shinny before they took to the field.
Students from Wendover High School participated in various races at the track.
Comanche Nation members donated a traveling Shinny stick trophy, designated to a new winning team each year — this year’s winner was Team Goshute Shoshone, with youth girl tribal members from the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation.
The team members will pass along the trophy to next year’s winners at the 2027 Shoshonean Reunion.
Sho-Ban tribal member Michele Dann Hernandez presents the annual Shinnyball traveling trophy to his year’s winners.
The final day of breakout sessions saw various presentations, workshops and activities — Shoshone-Bannock tribal elders Charlene Wahtomy and Vivian Wahtomy hosted a raffle to attend, participate and take home beaded moccasins during their workshop, with assistance from Cecelia Wahtomy; between fifteen to twenty participants were selected.
Other workshops included Nevada Medicinal Plants by Darlene Graham, Headdress ornament making by Ute Education Dept., History of Ruby Valley by George Hardin, Shoshone uses for elderberries by Melanie Smokey and Elvira Murphy and Shoshone language and grammar by Alanna Charles.
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes hosted a daily giveaway for all participants after lunch was served.
Charlene Wahtomy instructs a youth participant at the moccasin making raffle
class she helps host on September 16.
Visiting Sho-Ban tribal members joined other participating tribes’ participants for the annual fashion show at the Shoshonean Reunion. Participants of all ages each showcased various traditional and contemporary clothing styles for the audience.
Eastern Shoshone tribal elder Arlen Shoyo gave the closing prayer and the tribal and military flags were retired, with a flag song by Sho-Ban tribal elder Gary Watson, closing out the twenty-sixth annual reunion.
The Shoshonean Reunion executive board has designated the Southern Ute Tribe to host the 2027 event in Ignacio, Colo. Follow the Shoshonean Reunion website for future updates.
