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Bear River Massacre Slowly Becoming Acknowledged as the Nation’s Largest
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Tuesday, May 4, 2021
 

BY KAREN BOSSICK

The snow lay deep on the ground on Jan. 29, 1863, when the 2nd Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry opened fire on village of Shoshone Indians in what is now southeastern Idaho’s Fremont County.

After two hours, the Shoshone had run out of ammunition and, despite their best efforts to cast lead ammunition during the middle of battle, were no match for the U.S. soldiers.

When smoke from the rifles had cleared, Danish immigrant Hans Jasperson claimed to have counted nearly 500 dead Shoshone in what became known as the Bear River Massacre. The California Volunteers lost just 14 soldiers.

Darren Parry, former chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, will share a deeply personal story of the largest massacre of Native Americans by federal troops in the history of the United States on Thursday, May 6.

The Hailey Public Library will present the discussion at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 6, by Zoom.

Parry will also discuss his efforts to build a cultural center to commemorate the site of the little know massacre, which got scant attention at the time it happened because it was in the middle of the Civil War.

“Mr. Parry will speak specifically about the Bear River massacre, as well as what the tribe is currently doing at the massacre site to not only tell the story of his people but also to heal the land,” said Kristin Fletcher, programs and engagement coordinator for the library. “His is a story of resilience and hope.”

Parry is the author of “The Bear River Massacre: A Shoshone History” and teaches Native American History at Utah State University in Logan.

He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis on History at the University  of Utah and Weber State University.

He serves on the board of directors for the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville, Utah; the Utah State Museum Board, the Community Advisory Board for the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the Weber State University National Advisory Council and the American Indian Service Board, which provides scholarships for Native American students around the country.

To RSVP for Thursday’s free Zoom lecture, RSVP to Fletcher at kristin.fletcher@haileypubliclibrary.org

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