ABOUT US
Our History. Our People. Our Future.
OUR HISTORY
The Original Boise Valley inhabitants are descendants of the Burns Paiute of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Paiute band, also of Oregon, the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone of Nevada; the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of Idaho and Nevada, along with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Idaho.
BOISE VALLEY TREATY
Idaho Territorial Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs Caleb Lyons signed the Boise Treaty of 1864. The treaty said the Boise Shoshones would give up most of the valley, but the exception was land 30 miles on each side from the center of the Boise River and to all country drained from its mouth to its source. An equal share of fisheries was promised.
The land was given up in good faith, but Congress never ratified the treaty. The title to the land has never been relinquished.
The cavalry forcibly removed our tribal people from the area in 1869 when silver and gold were discovered in the Boise Valley. Most of the tribal people were marched to the areas they are now located. However, some were imprisoned at either Fort Boise, Fort Simco or Fort Vancouver in Washington. It was a difficult time for all as many died along the way.
The Boise Valley is important to all of us and we continue to return to Eagle Rock located above Eagle Rock Park where we pray for our ancestors as many are buried there.
ORIGINAL BOISE VALLEY PEOPLE, LLC
Logo artwork by Kira Murillo
The Original Boise Valley People LLC was established in March of 2023 when the Internal Revenue Service approved the organization’s 501(c)3 application.
A group of volunteers from the regional Return of the Boise Valley People committee came together in October and November of 2022 when the articles of incorporation and the ByLaws were created after much discussion.
It has been a long-time goal of the regional Return of the Boise Valley People committee to attain 501(c)3 status and work to establish a cultural center, along with educate the public on the history of the Boise Valley.
OUR MISSION
OBVP’s mission is to practice and promote our living cultural legacies. Our vision is together we nurture engaging spaces to gather and share our indigenous voices and lifeways for all generations.
The Original Boise Valley People (Newe/Numu) intend to reaffirm and establish our presence in the Boise Valley. We will interpret and document the history of our people and our ancestral relationship with the land. We shall share our culture and history with each other and educate the public on the history of the Boise Valley.
MEET OUR BOARD
LORI EDMO
Lori Edmo is the editor the Sho-Ban News – the weekly newspaper of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes located in Fort Hall, Idaho. She is a graduate of the University of Montana, Missoula and has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
Lori is an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
She served ten years on the Native American Journalists Association Board of Directors (now known as Indigenous Journalists Association) and two years on the Unity Journalists of Color Board of Directors.
During the past 20 years, she has focused on learning more about her family history, culture and the Bannock language. She’s chairperson of the Original Boise Valley People, LLC a non-profit that focuses on public education of the true history of the Boise Valley. The OBVP’s goal is to eventually build a cultural center in Boise to further their cause.
She has two sons Delson “Hoss” Suppah Jr. and Noah Suppah, along with a daughter Lucy Racehorse Suppah. She also has one granddaughter Auri Suppah.
VERNA L. RACEHORSE
Verna L. Racehorse is Secretary of Original Boise Valley People, LLC
Being involved as a group participant is key to conducting goals as they relate to the mission of OBVP. Taking meeting minutes and coordinating with the President to stay organized.
Her connection to OBVP is for support. Seeing goals conducted is fulfilling. Ancestors have started the way to continue the history of our people and our ties to the land. We are here to continue to educate the public of the original Boise Valley people. To share our cultural ways and history to pass on to our youth who will continue. My personal connection is what my mother told me, “Continue to break barriers so our people can be heard and seen.” My passion is to keep our history known in our words.
As a retired Licensed Practical Nurse from 16 years in that career, I’ve learned to care for all people. I wish for this for equal caring and respect for our Native people.
As a board member of Native American Coalition of Boise locally in Boise helps keep Natives and others involved socially with other urban Natives. We have fundraisers, cultural sharing, and volunteering at numerous events.
ANTOINETTE CAVANAUGH
Antoinette Cavanaugh is an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. She has served on the OBVP Board since 2022 and has worked in collaboration with other board members on projects and processes related to the ongoing development and fulfillment of the organizational mission and goals.
She has earned a BA from Boise State University and advanced degrees from University of Nevada, in Educational Administration and Higher Education and Human Development and Family Science. During her personal time, Antoinette enjoys spending time with her family. Some of Antoinette’s personal interests include beading, making cradleboard baskets, harvesting Indigenous food sources, reading, and writing.
LOUISE E. DIXEY
Louise E. Dixey, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, is a descendant of the Boise Valley Shoshone whom were marched from the Boise Valley to the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. She is also a descendant of the Bannocks who were removed from both the Salmon River and Yellowstone country.
She is a graduate of Idaho State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, she is currently employed as the Cultural Resources Director for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and is a student of the Bannock Language. Louise continues to research the history of the Shoshone and Bannock people who were removed from the homelands throughout Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah and Oregon.
Louise is widowed and has two adult daughters, five grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. She and her late husband Clyde ranched on the Reservation for 45 years and her family takes part in Tribal cultural activities and other ceremonies.
JUSTINA PARADISE
Justina Paradise has been a member of the regional planning committee for the Return of the Boise Valley People event since it’s inception. Justina is a Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone tribal council member.
DIANE L. TEEMAN
Diane L. Teeman is the proprietor of High Desert Heritage Consultants, LLC., an organization that brings training, education, and consultancy to tribal and non-tribal entities working toward satisfactory cultural resource management practices and outcomes.
She is mother, grandmother, and Elder of the Burns Paiute Tribe of Oregon, and she also holds ancestral descendancy to the Gidutikad and Tagü Paiute Bands, Bannock, and Shoshone.
Diane holds a PhD in anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and master’s degrees in anthropology and philosophy from the University of Oregon. Diane is a traditional culture practitioner and has worked professionally for the last four decades toward improving tribal culture and heritage protections and revitalization for Great Basin cultures.
Diane’s academic and applied interests include collaborative methodologies in archaeology and working toward the decolonization and Indigenization of the academy and society through teaching holistically informed culture-history.
YVETTE TOWERSAP
Yvette Towersap brings experience in tribal government relations, consultation, and tribal history, with a strong commitment to preserving and sharing Indigenous knowledge. Her interests include American Indian history and public history, with a focus on making history accessible and meaningful for communities today.
Her research has explored topics such as nineteenth-century tribal gender roles, the Bannock War and its legacy, tribal leadership, the reduction of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation to create surrounding urban communities, and, more recently, tribal health histories.
Yvette was born and raised on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation and is an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. She earned a BA in Anthropology from Idaho State University and a Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. She later completed an MA in History at the University of Utah, along with certificates in Public History and Historic Preservation.
She is currently a PhD student in U.S. History at Montana State University, where her research focuses on Shoshone and Bannock histories in the Greater Yellowstone region.
Yvette is also a mother of three and a grandmother of six, and she values the role of family and community in shaping her work.
PROCLAMATIONS, DEDICATIONS & HONORS
