Chief Washakie: Great Leader of the Shoshone people painted for Mitch Levitt

Chief Washakie's 2015 © by Michael Bedard
painted for Mitch Levitt  Oil on panel 18 x 24

limited Edition Canvas prints will be available

Close up Chief Washakie © by Michael Bedard

The rustic way I painted Chief Washikie reminded me of the way I painted brother's keeper both in color and blending of the paint. using palette knife and brush. I love his face and turquoise shirt.

The design in the background comes from a Navaho blanket Mitch asked me to mount for him at the same time. The blanket was titled "Storm".

Chief Washakie's legend lives on though well over a hundred years of his death.   Born in the early 1800s a great leader of his people. one of the few Chiefs that received full military honers at his passing. a fort named after him.  the end of his days he fought to protect and preserve as much as possible the rights of his people.

"The white man kills our game, captures our furs, and sometimes feeds his herds upon our meadows. And your great and mighty government-oh sir, I hesitate, for I cannot tell the half! It does not protect our rights…I say again, the government does not keep its word!”.

Shoshone Indians at Ft. Washakie, Wyoming Indian reservation. Chief Washakie (at left) extends his right arm

His prowess in battle, his efforts for peace, and his commitment to his people's welfare made him one of the most respected leaders in Native American history. In 1878 a U.S. army outpost located on the reservation was renamed Fort Washakie, which was the only U.S military outpost to be named after a Native American. 

Washakie was a hide painter. An epic 1880 painted elk hide at the Glenbow Museum is attributed to him. The hide painting portrays the Sun Dance.

Shoshone, Chief Washakie's Buffalo Hunt
Native American Art and Culture College of Visual Arts Dr. Sue short

Shoshone, Chief Washakie's Buffalo Hunt

Fur Trade

Washakie band participated in the fur trade rendezvous (1825–1840), since those rendezvous took place within the Green River, Wind River, and Snake River regions claimed by the horse-owning and buffalo-hunting Shoshone and Bannock bands of eastern Idaho. Late in life, Washakie reported that he and Jim Bridger became fast friends, and indeed, Bridger became Washakie's son-in-law in 1850 when he took Washakie's daughter as his third wife. Bridger, born March 17, 1804, entered Shoshone country in 1824 (Washakie said Bridger was the older of the two). Washakie learned French and some English from trappers and traders. Washakie's close association with the trappers developed into a similar relationship with U.S. officials.

Washakie was a friend of Brigham Young and expressed sadness at the fighting his people had often done with the Utahs. It was not until after 1880, after Young's death, that Washakie became a member of the Church of jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized on 25 September 1880 by Amos R. Wright. About 300 other Shoshone joined the church at this point.