This is an amazing 1881 photograph of Shoshone Chief Washakie (1804/1810-1900) stepping out of a teepee in 1881. Washakie, born in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana estimated by historian Gale Ontoko to have been between circa 1798 and 1810 was originally named Pinaquanah (Pina Quanah, “Smells of Sugar”). Washakie was a prominent leader of the Shoshone people during the mid-19th century. He was first mentioned in 1840 in the written record of the American fur trapper, Osborne Russell. In 1851, at the urging of trapper Jim Bridger, Washakie led a band of Shoshones to the council meetings of the Treaty of Fort Laramie. Essentially from that time until his death, he was considered the head of the Eastern Shoshones by the representatives of the United States government. This photo shows Chief Washakie stepping out of a teepee as a young child sits to the right on the ground. Washakie holds a piece of cloth in one hand and points with the other hand. The back is marked with pencil reading, "Chief Washakie". The photo shows good condition overall with slight wear present from its age and use over the years, but no signs of major damage is noted. It measures 6 7/8" L x 4 3/4" W and weighs under 6 ounces.