NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO
Randy “Leo” Teton — here with his horse Geronimo — is a member of Idaho’s Shoshone-Bannock Tribes featured in the National Geographic magazine March feature “People of the Horse.”
BY JOURNAL STAFF
FORT HALL — Several Shoshone-Bannock tribal members are featured in the March 2014 edition of the National Geographic magazine in an article that highlights the history of horses among Native American people.
Along with a handful of other U.S. tribes, the focus of the story is on how horses forever changed the way of life on the Great Plains. It is titled “People of the Horse” and is authored by David Quammen with photos by Erika Larsen.
Quammen wrote: “They (the horses) allowed tribes to hunt more buffalo than ever before. They tipped the balance of power in favor of mounted warriors. And they became prized as wealth. For Native Americans today, horses endure as an emblem of tradition and a source of pride, pageantry and healing.”
The Indian Relay races have been a part of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes culture for over a hundred years now. According to tribal officials, many families that participated in the sport decades ago still participate today.
The Indian Relay teams consist of three horses and four team members. One is the rider, another a catcher and two holders. The rider must complete a lap with each horse riding bareback style. The rider must also dismount without any help from their teammates and without losing control of the horse.
Each year, the sport draws a crowd at the Shoshone-Bannock Festival held in August.
A black and white horse named “Little Joe” and Woodrow “Woody” Teton of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes is pictured in the National Geographic article. Teton scans the horizon for elk with a shotgun in hand while atop the quarter horse. It is pointed out in the article that quarter horses like “Little Joe” are a breed valued for cattle and hunting.
Other Shoshone-Bannock Tribal members who participated in the interview are Clifford Houtz, Lance Tissidimit, Toby Tissidimit and Larry Teton.
Online extras are also available including the editor’s page that features a photo of Randy “Leo” Teton with his horse “Geronimo.” The link to the photo can found at ngm.nation algeographic.com/2014/03/ editors-note.
In addition, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes member Jade Broncho’s voice can be heard in the background of a short video on the article that is posted online at
ngm.nationalgeographic. com/2014/03/horse-tribes/ bond-video.
All those who subscribe to National Geographic have already received the 2014 March edition in the mail.
A museum exhibit will be offered in the near future, which will include all photographs Larsen took during her Eastern Idaho visit.
The tribes’ public affairs manager, Randy’L Teton, indicated that the National Geographic photographer and reporter made contact with her in the fall of 2012.