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Native American Tribes of Wyoming

Welcome to our Wyoming State Facts section, part of an educational project designed to provide information about indigenous people in different U.S. states. Follow the links to the right of our tribal map for more information about the language, culture and history of each Wyoming tribe, or scroll below the map for Wyoming Indian activities including a wordsearch, fact sheets, and words from the Native American languages of Wyoming. Feel free to print any of these materials out for classroom use!

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American Indians in Wyoming

Did you know the name "Wyoming" comes from a Algonquian Indian word? It is an English corruption of the Lenape word Chwewamink, which means "by the big river flat." The Lenape never lived in the area that is now Wyoming, however... the state's name was borrowed from a placename in Pennsylvania.

The original inhabitants of the area that is now Wyoming included:

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The Arapaho tribe

The Cheyenne tribe

The Crow tribe

The Shoshoni tribe

The Ute tribe

There are two federally recognized Indian tribes in Wyoming today.

Wyoming's Shoshone and Arapaho tribes share a single Indian reservation:

Wind River Reservation:
PO Box 217
Fort Washakie, WY 82514
http://www.northernarapaho.com/ and http://www.easternshoshone.net/

Teaching and learning activities about Wyoming Indians:

Feel free to print these out to use at school!

Wyoming Tribes Word Search: Printable puzzle hiding the names of Wyoming's Indian tribes.

Wyoming Language Greetings: Learn to say "hello" in several Native Wyoming languages.

Wyoming Native Animals: Learn the Native American names of Wyoming animals.

Wyoming Indian Facts for Kids: Answers to frequently asked questions about the tribes of Wyoming.
We currently have pages for the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, and Shoshone tribes.

Recommended books about Wyoming Native Americans
(Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links)

Wyoming Indians: Simple book introducing Wyoming's Native American history and culture to kids.

Encyclopedia of Wyoming Indians: Thorough reference work about the Native American tribes of Wyoming.

People of the Wind River: In-depth history of the Eastern Shoshone Indians of Wyoming.

What You See in Clear Water: Interesting book about tensions between Arapahos, Shoshones and whites in Wyoming.

Ancient Visions: Art book of ancient Indian petroglyphs and pictographs in Wyoming and Montana.

Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region Handbook of herbs, food crops, and plant lore among the prairie tribes.

Other resources about American Indian history, culture and society in Wyoming state:

Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council :
Intertribal organization representing Wyoming Indian tribes.

Indians of Western Wyoming :
History of Wyoming's Shoshone and Arapaho Indians.

Wyoming Reservations:
Extensive profiles of the Wyoming Indian tribes including culture, history, and contacts.

Wyoming Historical Museums Guide:
Directory of historical museums in each county of Wyoming, including museums dedicated to American Indian tribes.