Historical Gift of the Waters Pageant

The Gift of the Waters Pageant Days begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 6-7 at Hot Springs State Park.

This year will celebrate the 120th year since the signing of the treaty. The treaty was signed on April 21, 1986 by Chief Washakie of the Shoshones and Chief Sharp Nose of the Arapaho at Fort Washakie. The tribes sold land almost 10 miles square to the United States for $60,000 worth of cash, food and cattle. Chief Washakie stipulated that a portion of the water remain free to the people.

The Wyoming Legislature set aside the park and specified one-quarter of the water from the Big Spring to be free for public use in 1899.

The play was written in 1925 by Marie Montabe and presented for the first time. Twenty- five years went by before the play was revived in 1950, and it has been presented every year since. It is performed by the Shoshone tribes and local residents in front of the Big Spring in Hot Springs State Park.

Treasurer of the Gift of the Waters Committee Barb Vietti said this will be the first year of the pageant that Starr Weed will not be performing.

"This is the first year in many years that Starr Weed will not be participating," she said. "He passed away this past year and he was absolutely instrumental in the support of the Gift of the Waters and we're all completely saddened by his passing."

Vietti went on to say Starr was an integral part of the ceremony, even last year.

"Even last year, he was one of the participants," she said. "He passed the position of playing Chief Washakie onto someone else, but he was always with him. He would also sing a song. Even last year, he sang that song at 102 years old. We will miss him, but he did want us to make sure that this pageant continues."

Volunteers are still needed to make this year's event a success.

Vietti said individuals can volunteer in a variety of ways.

A women's chorus singing Native American songs is in need of volunteers, or they can participate in another part of the pageant. For those who do not seek the spotlight, the Gift of the Waters Pageant Committee is also in search of volunteers to help with programs, selling t-shirts, building the parade float and helping to provide meals for the Native American participants.

For more information on how you can help with fundraising or volunteering to help with the Gift of the Waters Pageant, call Vietti at 921-1551, President of the Gift of the Waters Pageant Committee Shasta Shafer at 307-258-9861 or Secretary of the Gift of the Waters Pageant Committee JoAnn Myers at 864-2594. This year's t-shirts are available for purchase for $17 sizes S-XL and $19 for 2XL and above. To purchase a t-shirt, call Vietti at 921-1551 or Howie Samelson at 864-3002.