Native interpreter program amplifies Indigenous voices at historic sites

SHERIDAN — At the base of the Bighorn Mountains, the plains near Piney Creek hold the stories and secrets of more than 12,000 years of human history.

For centuries, this land served as a route for chasing bison herds on horseback. Later, it became a gathering place; the location of trade routes with tribes from the Southwest. It’s why former archaeologist Dave McKee said traces of Yellowstone obsidian can be found all over North America at different time periods — evidence of a thriving and vibrant society.

Yet modern-day history often refers to these sites by other names. Like the Bozeman Trail, a route used by settlers to travel through Wyoming into Montana, past lands occupied by the Shoshone, Arapaho and Lakota nations. Then, Fort Phil Kearny, a 17-acre wooden stockade that housed U.S. Army soldiers from 1866 to 1868. Then, the location of the infamous Fetterman Fight. 

In December 1866, a group of 10 Native warriors lured 76 enlisted men, three officers and two civilians into an ambush, wiping out the entire command. In Native tradition, the battle is often called “The Battle of the Hundred in the Hands,” displaying the heroism of famous warriors, including Crazy Horse, and the collaboration of the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.

McKee said primarily White perspectives have dominated conversations around this historic area, but new initiatives to recruit Indigenous interpretive rangers at the Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site hope to balance settler and Indigenous perspectives.

“The coolest part about history is when it’s whole,” McKee said.

Through the American Indian College Student Interpretive Ranger Program, the Fort Phil Kearny/Bozeman Trail Association works with the U.S. Forest Service and Wyoming State Parks to employ two to three college students over the course of the summer. 

The program includes funding for salaries, housing and mileage. Participating students work at both the Fort Phil Kearny and The Medicine Wheel/Medicine Mountain National Historic Landmark near Lovell. The internship is in its third year.

The students also put on a free evening public program, which often attracts more than 50 people. The programs are also transcribed in the Bozeman Trail Association’s Lookout Magazine.

“I want to provide employment and just career experience for the college students,” McKee said. “And I wanted their presence and their voices at these two sites… there’s deep history here for all the tribes.”

Uncovering stories

Donovin Sprague, an enrolled member of the Minnicoujou Lakota tribe and an instructor at Sheridan College, serves as a student mentor for the internship program. Sprague said he’s spent his entire career trying to correct inaccuracies of Native history retellings. He’s also authored 10 different books highlighting the histories of the Choctaw, Cheyenne River Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, Standing Rock Sioux and Oglala Sioux tribes.

“It takes a lot of work to correct those, to provide a clearer vision,” Sprague said.

Sprague has several concerns when discussing traditional depictions of historical events on the Western plains. He notices many museums include information about the lives of American soldiers outside of wartime, including relatives and education. 

Yet from a Native perspective, Sprague would love to see more depictions of family life and the important contributions of Indigenous women. Sprague said the program allows interns to dive into these stories and find their own area of expertise within Native history.

“As they go through the summer, they start developing their own programs and they present,” Sprague said. “That’s all educational, and I like to see the students doing that.”

One of the sites’ three Native interns this summer is Aidan Hereford, a Fort Washakie resident and graduate of Central Wyoming College. Hereford’s roots with the Eastern Shoshoni and Arapaho tribes influenced her to pursue the interpretive ranger opportunity. She has both Shoshone and Arapaho names: Red Rose and Tall Mountain.

“I think it’s very important for Plains Indians to acknowledge the history that happened and took place here,” Hereford said.

Hereford said she can trace her roots back to Chief Washakie, a prominent Shoshone leader and warrior in the late 1800s. He was present at the signing of the Treaty of Fort Laramie, an agreement between the U.S. forces and Native tribes, and the Fort Bridger Treaties in 1863 and 1868 to establish the Wind River Reservation.

While working at Fort Phil Kearny, Hereford said she discovered more about her ancestors.  Her hometown of Fort Washakie is named after the Chief, yet Hereford said the town used to be named Fort Brown in honor of Capt. Federick H. Brown, who was involved in the Fetterman fight.

Fort Washakie and the location of the Fetterman fight are 227 miles apart. Hereford said this tie was a glimpse into the connectedness of the Plains Tribes and the deep web of history in the entire state. This topic was the focus of her summer presentation.

“I just happened to learn that when I got here, and I found that very interesting. There’s a connection here,” Hereford said.

Preserving culture

The second site Hereford works at as an interpretive ranger is the Medicine Wheel/Medicine Mountain National Historic Landmark. 

The location has deep roots in Native history as "The Place Where the Eagle Lands" — so much so the site is managed under a historic preservation plan with Wyoming State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service. According to the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, Medicine Wheel was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1970.

Originally, McKee said the landmark only included 200 acres. Now, they’ve added archaeology and expanded the boundary to include ceremonial sites and ethnographic information. He said the 4,080-acre site is a better representation of its cultural importance.

“At the time, it was the first national landmark that was successfully added as a traditional cultural place, which means it is central and core to a culture’s identity,” McKee said.

To archaeologists, Medicine Wheel represents a locale used by Indigenous people for 10,000 years. Sitting on the northwestern ride of Medicine Mountain, the circular limestone structure measures 80 feet in diameter with 28 rock spokes. The site also contains remnants like stone tools and travois trails. But to many Native American cultures, the site also has spiritual qualities and is the center for ceremonies, prayer offerings, inspiration and quiet solitude.

“The Medicine Wheel has sacred and significant interest and value to many tribes. And through archeology, they know about 40 tribes used the Bighorns over a time period,” Sprague said. “Even if tribes have differences, they put those aside at sacred sites, because everyone is getting this kind of vibe. Good things are going on, and the Creator is listening and tuned in.”

Sprague said the site is also tied to the summer and winter solstice in June and December. He said many ceremonies that take place at Medicine Wheel involve prayer and inipi — a sweat lodge time to prepare for peace and reflection.

“You cleanse and sweat and get all the impurities out. Then you’re ready to move on, maybe into an additional ceremony,” Sprague said. “Depending on your family, your tribe, (praying with a pipe) is usually involved.”

According to Wyoming SHPO, Medicine Wheel is one of the most important and well-preserved ancient Native American sacred site complexes in North America. Hereford said working at this site has given her the chance to experience the crossroads of many different Native cultures from around the country.

“It’s good to be acknowledged by tribes from all over the place that we’re here as student interpreter rangers to help protect this sacred landmark,” Hereford said. “And usually when they’re done with their ceremonies, they (say), ‘Thank you for being here.’"

As an archaeologist and historian, McKee said he sees countless ways the Native story is infused into the history and culture of the region. From the historic and sacred sites to place names — including the Bighorn Mountains, Goose Creek and Tongue River — the Native connection to the land is enduring. McKee hopes the internship program can be just one way to celebrate this connection.

“We’ve been enriched by these students coming here,” McKee said.

This story was published on Oct. 3, 2025.