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Editor’s Note: KSL initially reported that settlers attacked the Native American encampment during the Bear River Massacre when it was, in fact, the U.S. Army that attacked the Shoshoni people. The article has been changed to reflect that fact.WELLSVILLE — As state leaders across the country review the historical context behind controversial monuments to the past, Utah has been doing something similar.
After public outcry and negotiations with tribal members, Wellsville will revise its portrayal of a battle between Native Americans and early Mormon pioneers reenacted each year during the city’s Founder’s Day celebrations, according to a statement by the city.
Wellsville was “overwhelmed” by emails and social media posts from people concerned about the reenactment, after a column by The Salt Lake Tribune’s Robert Gehrke was published Sept. 6 following the “sham battle” on Sept. 5.
Those who have portrayed Native Americans in Wellsville's mock fights painted their skin red and donned tribal headdresses and war paint, then pretended to raid settlers. The city has reenacted the battle since the early 20th century. Officials have now signaled upcoming changes to the sham battles, though the details of those changes are still unknown.
*Citizens participate in Wellsville's sham battle of 2016. Video courtesy of Anfaney Gladwin.*
“Wellsville City is working to review and make the changes necessary to portray an accurate representation of the relationship between the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation and the Mormon pioneers in Wellsville," city officials said in a statement.
Wellsville officials met with tribal members of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation and agreed the city’s depiction of the battle did not accurately convey the relationship the early Mormon pioneers had with the Native Americans at the time, nor the respect the city has today for their tribal neighbors, the statement said.
While the portrayal is meant to commemorate emergency drills staged by early Mormon pioneers in Wellsville, the narration of the reenactment also mentions the “Battle of Bear River,” reported Gehrke.
The Battle of Bear River was one of the worst massacres of Native Americans in the nation’s history and is now known as the "Bear River Massacre," though the reenactment's narration did not refer to it as such. Approximately 250 Shoshoni were killed in the massacre when the U.S. Army attacked a Native American encampment and beat and raped Shoshoni women and children.
“Wellsville City meant no disrespect. We apologize if we've offended anyone. We are grateful for this opportunity to have productive conversations with citizens and with the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation,” city officials said. “They have agreed to help us create an updated event that depicts historical accuracy and may tell a story rich in heritage and culture.”
The Ute Indian Tribe Political Action Committee, or Ute PAC, initially planned a rally on Sept. 20 to protest the sham battle. The organization’s executive director, Robert Lucero, has since changed the Facebook event to a press conference and rally to reflect the changes brought about by the conversations between Wellsville city leaders and tribal members.
“I've participated in Wellsville Founder's Day events for 20+ years,” wrote Wellsville citizen Dustin Coleman on the rally’s Facebook page. “We will continue our celebrations, but want to do it in a respectful manner. … We could make these events better than they've ever been!”
