Pageant Days program, parade set for first weekend in August

“Moccasined feet of Indians trod the paths surrounding the Big Horn Hot Springs long before the coming of the first white man.” These words open the “History of the Spring” written by Jessie L. Duhig and are found in the program for the annual Gift of the Waters Historic Pageant that will be performed at 6 p.m. on August 5 and 6.

The Pageant honors when members of the Shoshone and Arapahoe nations ceded 10 acres of land, which includes the Big Horn Hot Springs, to the US Government. As part of the treaty, Chief Washakie put a clause in the treaty which provided that a portion of the Hot Springs be available free for public use.

“It is in observance of the giving of the waters of the Big Spring to the whites,” Duhig wrote, “that Indians gather with their white brothers around Bah-gue-wana to present the pageant, ‘Gift of the Waters.’”

The first pageant was performed on Oct. 1, 1925, at 7:30 a.m., on a Thursday morning as opposed to the pageant these days, which is performed for two days in the evenings, the first weekend in August. That first performance was presented for the state federation meeting of the Thermopolis Woman’s Club, of which Marie Montabé Savaresy was a member. Savaresy went to live with the Shoshone Nation in the summer of 1925. She later wrote a poem titled “Gift of the Waters.” Among the cast in that original performance was Dick Washakie, oldest son of Chief Washakie, who played the part of Chief Washakie. Milward Simpson, father of Al and Pete Simpson, portrayed the Third Brave of the Council.

The next performance was 25 years later in 1950. It is speculated that Jessie L. Duhig, who wrote the “History of the Spring” that appears in the pageant, contacted Marie Montabé and asked if she would be interested in performing in the pageant again. The oldest script that is known, written by Marie Montabé, contained parts of her original poem.

The Pageant is free to the public including a program that is rich with history. Before the pageant begins, everyone is encouraged to read the program to understand the significance of this historical event.

In recent years, the Pageant Committee and Shoshone tribal members have added a Friday evening Indian Taco fundraiser. The Taco fundraiser starts at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 4 at the VFW. The Tacos have been very well received by the community, and the committee appreciates all those who attend.

T-Shirts are another avenue the Committee uses to support the Pageant. T-Shirt sales will be available starting Friday at the Taco fundraiser and continue through the weekend at both Pageant times.

For more information or to volunteer to help with the pageant, contact Shasta Shafer at (307) 258-9861.

Gift of the Waters Pageant Parade

The Pageant Parade will make its way through town on Saturday, August 5 beginning at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is Voyage of Discovery.

Entry forms are available at the Thermopolis - Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and must be received by Thursday, August 3. The overall winning entry will receive $100 in Chamber Bucks. Categories include individual, business, organization, kids (up to 12 years of age), kids (13-18 years of age) and pets/animals. Entries will be judged on theme, appearance and originality.

For parade participants, check in will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Senior Center with line-up North 4th Street and Arapahoe. The parade route will be the same as previous years, up Arapahoe, left on 5th Street, right on Broadway, travel to the stoplight and then back down Broadway to 4th Street.