Documentary Educational Resources - Geography / North America / United States / Wyoming / All Films

Sheep Eaters

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 13:21:00 GMT

The spectacular Wind River Mountain Range of northwest Wyoming was once home to a little known but fascinating band of Shoshone Indians known as the Tuku Dika, or Sheep Eaters. As their name implies, these peoples were among the most successful hunters of North America's wild sheep, the majestic Rocky Mountain "big horns". These magnificent creatures still roam the rugged Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem; however, the tribe that followed them for hundreds of years was relegated to life on the reservation by the turn of the nineteenth century. This four-part series examines the life ways of this ancient band of high mountain Shoshones.

Part 1 - Trading & Tools: This film examines the skills of tanning, flint napping and bow making among the Sheep Eaters, who utilized dogs to help them travel and gather resources.

Part 2 - Plants & Minerals: The Sheep Eaters relied heavily on the plants they could gather for medicinal and edible uses, often cooking food in a unique soapstone vessel.

Part 3 - Shelters & Petroglyphs: The Sheep Eaters followed migrating big horn sheep and utilized caves and cliff overhangs for shelter, only building wood-pole structures—wickuips—where no natural shelter was readily available. Rock art, associated with vision quests are also examined.

Part 4 - Hunting & Fishing: The tribe used wooden traps and bows to harvest the big horns. Fish spears, baskets and fish traps helped bring fish to their families.

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Goat Packing

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:26:00 GMT

Goat Packing
Buy Now: $320.00

Most of us think of goats as either petting zoo favorites, cartoon staples or food, but in growing numbers America's outdoor enthusiasts are discovering them as trail companions. People-friendly pack goats have been paving the way for many to enjoy an environmentally low impact experience. We meet some of these remarkable animals as we follow 9 people and 16 goats on a challenging 8 day traverse of the Continental Divide in Western Wyoming. Leading our way is John Mionczynski – the naturalist known as the 'father of goat-packing' and the individual credited with popularizing this unique experience. Come along as John and his goats start the hike on a trout filled lake. Once above the tree line we keep our eyes on signs of mountain sheep and their predators as we scramble across imposing boulder fields and trod through quickly melting snow. Along the way John shares his unique knowledge of the native plants and animals of this habitat. At 13,000 ft. we cross the Continental Glacier. Here we discover a vast boulder field in an area that had been covered by the Glacier just eight years ago. Further evidence of its diminishing size is a glacier lake – once frozen within the glacier, now flowing freely at its top. These Rocky Mountain glaciers, which have existed at least 15,000 years as the source of the rivers and underground water table of the Great Plains, are disappearing in our lifetime.

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