This is the story of the Indian tribes that lived in the Yellowstone area for thousands of years. They were a Shoshone group called Tukudika, or Sheep Easters. Unlike the popular myths that tend to denigrate these people, Mountain Spirit shows them to be “intelligent, inventive, congenial tenants” of the Rocky Mountain West. Drawing on the ethnographic record and recent archaeological investigations, the authors present a captivating story of these intriguing people.
They were talented artisans who made substantial shelters, powerful horn bows, and expertly tailored clothing that served them well in the harsh mountain winters. They traveled in small bands accompanied by large dogs that were indispensable hunting and trekking companions. They prospered until their lifestyle was disrupted by Europeans.
Mountain Spirit is written for a general audience and is superbly illustrated by David Joaquín, with seven paintings depicting Sheep Eater lifestyles. These were people who lived off a rich and sometimes hostile land and flourished for many centuries. At last, their story is being told. —Mark Michel
