Eastern Shoshone is the traditional language of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, whose homeland is the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, where they live alongside the Northern Arapaho Tribe. The language belongs to the Shoshonean branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family, a large language family whose historic territory stretches across the Great Basin, the western plains, Nevada, and parts of eastern California, including the Death Valley region. Today, Eastern Shoshone is considered endangered, with only a small number of fluent speakers remaining, making revitalization efforts increasingly important for future generations.
The Eastern Shoshone community is actively working to preserve and strengthen its language through partnerships with local schools, cultural programs, and community events. Tribal language educators collaborate with Wyoming Indian High School and other educational institutions to provide language and cultural enrichment opportunities for youth. The tribe also participates in major Indigenous language gatherings, including the Shoshonean Language Gathering, which brings together speakers and learners from related Shoshonean and Uto-Aztecan communities. These efforts help ensure that Eastern Shoshone language, culture, and traditional knowledge continue to be passed on and celebrated.