The Great Basin Indian Archives will present “History in The Making,” a celebration of oral histories from Western Shoshone elders on Aug. 18 at the Great Basin College Theater, in Elko Nevada. Various speakers and presentations will run from 1-8 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. The audience is welcome to attend select presentations throughout the afternoon and evening.
The archives, sponsored by Great Basin College, University of Utah and Barrick Gold Corp., hosts oral histories each year with hopes to engage the community from all ages and backgrounds by documenting the history and heritage of the Great Basin Indian people.
“Since the oral history project began, the elders have insisted on not only sharing their stories, but the Shoshone language itself,” said Gavorsky. “Given the large number of oral histories now available, the GBIA and its partners are considering how to share these materials and the rich language in which they are presented back to communities throughout Nevada.”
The oral histories will run from 1 to 4:45 p.m., and feature stories by elders Danny Millet, Doris Allison, Floyd Collins, Delaine George, Ruby Sam, Theresa Sam, Lester Shaw Jr., and Helen Walker. Personal life experience presentations will be shown, titled “Education Perspectives” by Antoinette Cavanaugh and “Shoshone Language Retention” by Keith Honaker.
This year’s featured guest speaker is Lee-Juan Tyler, sergeant-of-arms for the Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Tyler is active in traditional and ceremonial ways of the Shoshone-Bannock people Tyler is also fluent in Shoshone and supports the revitalization of the Shoshone and Bannock languages. Tyler’s presentation will begin at 6:45 p.m.
The Virtual Humanities Center will live-stream the evening program featuring Tyler and the presentation of the elders, starting at 6:45 pm. The live-stream may be viewed online.
This presentation is sponsored by Barrick Gold Corp. and GBC. Throughout the year, the Great Basin Indian Archives actively archives videos, voice recordings, photos, documents, and transcripts, providing students and the general public easy access to rich history. All the collections can be viewed by visiting the archives website: www.gbcnv.edu/gbia.
