[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4324-S4325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 115--PROVIDING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF A 
   STATUE OF CHIEF WASHAKIE, PRESENTED BY THE PEOPLE OF WYOMING, FOR 
      PLACEMENT IN NATIONAL STATUARY HALL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. THOMAS (for himself and Mr. Enzi) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration:

                            S. Con. Res. 115

       Whereas Chief Washakie was a recognized leader of the 
     Eastern Shoshone Tribe;
       Whereas Chief Washakie contributed to the settlement of the 
     west by allowing the Oregon and Mormon Trails to pass through 
     Shoshone lands;
       Whereas Chief Washakie, with his foresight and wisdom, 
     chose the path of peace for his people;
       Whereas Chief Washakie was a great leader who chose his 
     alliances with other tribes and the United States Government 
     thoughtfully; and
       Whereas in recognition of his alliance and long service to 
     the United States Government, Chief Washakie was the only 
     chief to be awarded a full military funeral: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. ACCEPTANCE OF STATUE OF CHIEF WASHAKIE FROM THE 
                   PEOPLE OF WYOMING FOR PLACEMENT IN NATIONAL 
                   STATUARY HALL.

       (a) In General.--The statue of Chief Washakie, furnished by 
     the people of Wyoming for placement in National Statuary Hall 
     in accordance with section 1814 of the Revised Statutes of 
     the United States (40 U.S.C. 187), is accepted in the name of 
     the United States, and the thanks of the Congress are 
     tendered to the people of Wyoming for providing this 
     commemoration of one of Wyoming's most eminent personages.
       (b) Presentation Ceremony.--The State of Wyoming is 
     authorized to use the rotunda of the Capitol on September 7, 
     2000, at 11:00 a.m., for a presentation ceremony for the 
     statue. The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police 
     Board shall take such actions as may be necessary with 
     respect to physical preparations and security for the 
     ceremony.
       (c) Display in Rotunda.--The statue shall be displayed in 
     the rotunda of the Capitol for a period of not more than 6 
     months, after which period the statue shall be moved to its 
     permanent location in National Statuary Hall.

     SEC. 2. TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS.

       (a) In General.--The transcript of proceedings of the 
     ceremony held under section 1 shall be printed, under the 
     direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, as a Senate 
     document, with illustrations and suitable binding.
       (b) Printed Copies.--In addition to the usual number, there 
     shall be printed 6,555 copies of the ceremony transcript, of 
     which 105 copies shall be for the use of the Senate, 450 
     copies shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 
     2,500 copies shall be for use of the Representative from 
     Wyoming, and 3,500 copies shall be for the use of the 
     Senators from Wyoming.

     SEC. 3. TRANSMITTAL TO GOVERNOR OF WYOMING.

       The Clerk of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this 
     concurrent resolution to the Governor of Wyoming.

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, today I rise along with Senator Enzi to 
submit a concurrent resolution allowing for the placement of Wyoming's 
second statue in Statuary Hall.
  As many individuals from Wyoming know, Chief Washakie was a true 
warrior and statesman. Chief Washakie was born in 1798 and actively 
participated in the cultural and historic events that shaped the West 
before passing away in 1900. The value of his life experiences--which 
span three separate centuries--still resonate in my home state today.
  Chief Washakie, a skilled orator and charismatic figure, was widely 
known for his ability to foresee what the future held for his people. 
As Chief of the Shoshone tribe for fifty years, Washakie was successful 
in protecting the interests of his people in the face of westward 
expansion. In 1868, Chief Washakie was instrumental in the signing of 
the Fort Bridger treaty--which granted the Shoshone more than three 
million acres of land in the Warm Valley of the Wind on the Wind River 
reservation. His legacy lives on today as many of his descendants 
continue to be involved in tribal matters throughout Wyoming.
  It is fitting that Wyoming has chosen Chief Washakie to be honored in 
our Nation's Capitol. This resolution not only speaks to his 
achievements but also commemorates the very spirit on which our great 
country was founded.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise with my colleague Senator Thomas to 
submit a resolution authorizing Congress to accept Wyoming's second 
statue for National Statuary Hall, a statue of the great Chief of the 
Eastern Shoshone Tribe, Chief Washakie. The entire nation owes Chief 
Washakie a great debt of gratitude for his assistance in allowing 
settlers to pass over his tribe's lands during the great Western 
migration and for advancing the cause of peace between the United 
States and Native American nations.
  The exact birthdate of Chief Washakie is not known, but it is 
believed that he was born in 1804 to a Flathead father and a Shoshone 
mother who lived in a Flathead tribe village. That village was attacked 
by the Blackfeet tribe and Washakie's father was killed in the battle. 
Washakie's mother was taken in by the Lemhi tribe of the Shoshone and 
Washakie and his sister remained with the Lemhis when his mother and 
the rest of his family rejoined the Flatheads.

  Washakie made his name as a successful warrior. He devised a large 
rattle from a dried buffalo hide that was inflated and filled with 
stones that he used to frighten the horses of rival tribes in battle. 
He also aligned his nation with the United States and served the United 
States Army as a scout. It was that service which earned him a funeral 
with full military honors upon his death in 1900. He was the only 
Native American leader to be accorded such an honor.
  Washakie united the Shoshones to battle threats presented by hostile

[[Page S4325]]

tribes, such as the Cheyenne and the Sioux tribes. This brought him to 
the attention of the United States Government and white men as someone 
they could do business with. He was a friend of many of the fur 
trappers who worked in Wyoming and his assistance with the other Native 
American tribes was invaluable. He also offered protection to wagon 
trains making their way across Wyoming. Chief Washakie sent members of 
his tribe to the Little Bighorn to reinforce Custer's troops during the 
battle, but were too late to prevent the massacre that took place.
  Chief Washakie recognized that the white man could be a benefit to 
the Shoshone tribes. His forward thinking nature ensured that the 
Shoshone tribe received their current home as a reservation and was not 
required to relocate to an unfamiliar area. The Wind River Reservation 
in Western Wyoming is still home to the Eastern Shoshone tribe.
  Wyoming has recognized Chief Washakie as one of our state's most 
notable citizens by granting him a very unique honor, the placement of 
a statue of him in the United States Capitol. He joins Esther Hobart 
Morris, the first female Justice of Peace in the nation and the woman 
who started the movement that led the Wyoming Territorial Legislature 
to grant women the right to vote in 1869. Chief Washakie also joins 
such esteemed company as patriots Samuel Adams and Ethan Allen, Senator 
John Calhoun and Henry Clay, and Presidents George Washington and 
Andrew Jackson to name just a few of the notable Americans with a place 
of honor in the Capitol. Congress extends its thanks to the people of 
Wyoming for providing the nation with this statue of one of our most 
important figures, Chief Washakie of the Shoshone Nation.

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