Forum: Hidden Histories: The Bear River Massacre - A Shoshone History

Darren Parry is the 2023 Spring Practitioner-In-Residence at Utah State University. He is also the author of The Bear River Massacre: A Shoshone History. His lecture “History, Healing, and Re-story-ation” will explore how the Bear River Massacre was a defining moment for the Northwestern band of the Shoshone Nation, and how the massacre did not trap the Shoshone people in death but offered them a chance of rebirth. Parry states “My message is one of hope and of peace in the face of violence. What emerges from the margins of these stories is a poignant reminder of the resilience of a people.”  The former Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, Parry currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American West Heritage Center, in Wellsville, Utah, and also on the Utah Humanities Board and the PBS Utah Board of Directors. Parry attended the University of Utah and Weber State University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, with an emphasis in History.

Speaker: Darren Parry

Moderator: TBD

Where: Idaho State Museum

When: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 from 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 pm

Tickets: $29 City Club Members, $35 non-members, $5 no meal

This forum is sponsored by CapEd Credit Union.

This program is part of City Club's four-part series featuring the history of nonwhite populations in Idaho. While demographically Idaho is predominantly white, the telling of Idaho’s history is rife with historical omissions of indigenous people and nonwhite settlers. These conversations on migration and race will explore the experiences and legacies of the Boise Valley People, Japanese, Latinx, and Black Idahoans. This builds upon City Club’s work on diversity, equity, and inclusion by bringing people together to explore community issues and hear diverse viewpoints by creating spaces where conversations happen.