A Gallery of Shoshone-Bannock Childrens' Dolls, Toys & Games

Toys and games have long been used in most cultures to teach children, the future generation, the values and traditions of the culture.  The same has been true for Shoshone and Bannock children reared on the Lemhi, Fort Hall and Wind River reservations.  While most toys have not survived their use, there are still examples of dolls, toy cradleboards, and miniature hide teepees that demonstrate the creativeness of Shoshone and Bannock elders and parents.  These items were used to teach young girls the arts of beadwork and sewing as well as to bring them pleasure.  Young boys had child-sized bows and arrows, although none have been documented in the collections. 

The items below are arranged in a rough chronological order.  Oldest examples are shown first.  Click on thumbnails to see larger image and provenance/source.