Family groups migrated and utilized environments across Nevada, Utah, and Idaho and were recognized by the food and environments in which they lived. Gumu Deka - Rabit Eaters
Deva Deka - Pine Nut Eaters
Hukun Deka - Seed Eaters
Siip Deka - Squirrel Eaters
Bankwi Deka and Penkwi Deka - Fish Eaters
Agai Deka - Salmon Eaters
Wye Deka - Rye Grass Eaters
Bogombe Deka - Berry Eaters
Wada Deka - Tuber Eaters
Bozhena Gunchu Deka - Nua Gucho Deka - Bison Eaters (Pre 1800s)

As early as 1810, the fur trade between the American states and Europe brought trappers to Northwestern Shoshone territory. This began the So-so-goi’s first extended exposure to non-native culture.

In the early to mid 1800’s, the Northwestern Shoshone had adopted most of the Plains Culture, using the horse for mobility and the hunting of game. Chief Pocatello especially led his band on numerous hunts for buffalo in the Wyoming area. Pocatello also gained notoriety as a reckless and fearless marauder along the Oregon and California trails. The Wasatch Mountains provided small game for the Northwestern bands, but of even greater importance were the grass seeds and plant roots which grew in abundance in the valleys and along the hillsides of northern Utah before the cattle and sheep of the white man denuded these rich areas and left many of the Shoshone tribes in a starving condition and to suffer under the ignominy of being called “Digger Indians.” Before white penetration, the Great Basin and Snake River Shoshone had been among the most ecologically efficient and well-adapted Indians of the American West.

Four miles north of Preston, Idaho, the Bear River quietly ambles through green valleys and sagebrush covered mountains, the Shoshone call this place Boa Ogoi.

On January 29, 1863, the militia of the U.S. Army's Third California Volunteers, under the command of
Colonel Patrick E. Connor rode down the frozen bluff and massacred some 350 Northwestern Shoshone Indians - the largest slaughter of Native Americans in the history of the country. Estimates of the dead are nearly double those of Wounded Knee, S.D., and Sand Creek, Colo. It was a clash of two diverse cultures trying to share the same land, and the Shoshone lost.

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Washakie signed for ALL. USA wanted ONE leader to speak for all bands. Established Wind River
Reservation for the Shoshone & Arapaho tribes & guaranteed them the right to hunt & fish on unoccupied lands outside of the reservation. The Shoshone & Bannock tribes ceded an area of approximately 44K square miles, including much of their ancestral lands in present-day Idaho, Utah, Nevada, & Wyoming. The U.S. gov promised to pay $251</year for 15 years & provide them goods and services.

The Northwestern Shoshone appealed to Mormon leader Brigham Young after years of struggle to recover from the massacre. Brigham Young sent George Washington Hill, in the capacity of missionary, to aid them. The Mormon Church started baptizing Shoshone in the spring of 1875 and set them up farming just a few miles north of Corinne. By August 1875, over 600 Northwestern Shoshones were baptized.

Beginning in the spring of 1876 and continuing into the 1880s, some Northwestern Shoshones applied for land in Box Elder County, Utah, under the Homestead Act, hoping that by doing so they would avoid another Corinne experience. About this time, Isacc Zundel was called by the LDS church to labor with the Shoshone. The objective was to teach the Shoshone farming and industrial practices, encouraging them to become self-sufficient. Other white families were called by the LDS church to settle among the Shoshone on what had now become known as the Malad Indian Farm. Again crops were planted. In addition, lumber was being obtained with which to build houses. Even though the farming experience in this area generally had been very positive, there were still some drawbacks. The size of the land holding was considered to be too small for the number of Indians that were expected to inhabit the farm. Consideration was being given once again settle the Shoshone band in Cache Valley. This idea was discarded in favor of moving the Shoshone band and the farming operation to an area called the Brigham Farm in the Malad Valley. This location was still in Utah, about twenty miles south of Malad, Idaho, and about four miles south or Portage, Utah. The land was purchased from the Brigham City M and M Company, which at that time was managed by Mormon leader Lorenzo Snow. There was a house and a granary already built at a location on the farm, which was about two miles south of what was to become the permanent location of the Washakie settlement, the settlement was named after the respected Shoshone leader Washakie.

The Washakie Day School was established in 1882, just two years after settling in the village of Washakie.
The first teacher was James J. Chandler. Chandler taught the students nursery rhymes and simple songs,
presumably to acquaint them with the English language. The students ranged in age from quite young to young adults.

Like many Indian nations, many members of the Northwestern Shoshone, Washakie Community left during World War II. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “This generation has a rendezvous with destiny.” When Roosevelt said that he had no idea of how much World War II would make his prophecy ring true. Over seventy years later, Americans are remembering the sacrifices of that generation, which took up arms in defense of the Nation. Part of that generation was a neglected minority, Native American Indians, who flocked to the colors in defense of their country. No group that participated in World War II made a greater per capita contribution, and no group was changed more by that war. During World War II more than 44,000 Native Americans saw military service. They served on all fronts in the conflict and were honored by receiving numerous Purple Hearts, Air Medals, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguished Service Crosses, and three Congressional Medals of Honor.

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On April 29, 1987, the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation became a federally recognized tribe, separate from other bands of Shoshones. As of May 1995 the tribe staffs two offices to serve the tribal members. One office is in Pocatello, Idaho to serve those living in the southern, Idaho vicinity, while Brigham City, Utah office serves tribal members living in the northern Utah region.

In January 1995, tribal enrollment of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation numbered 454 members. Nearly all of them live in southern Idaho and northern Utah, with few members scattered throughout the United States.

In January of 2018 the tribe Was able to purchase 550 acres of the massacre site land. Land they have not been able to use since the massacre in 1863.