LYNETTE ST. CLAIR
Shoshone linguist, cultural preservationist & education consultant on the Wind River Reservation
Lynette believes fiercely in preserving the Shoshone language and culture, as well as representing an authentic indigenous voice in her involvement with statewide standards initiatives to redefine the contributions of American Indians throughout the state.
“Dumu newe’ daygwup gay ah soowahzee.”
”Never forget our language.”
Lynette is a linguist, cultural preservationist, former educator, education consultant and program director in Ft. Washakie on the Wind River Reservation.
Listen to Lynette's story.
Lynette St. Clair grew up in Ft. Washakie, Wyoming, on the Wind River Reservation. A linguist, cultural preservationist, former educator, and education consultant, Lynette is passionate about preserving and sharing the Shoshone language with the next generation and with the world. In 2015 she was awarded the National Johnson O'Malley Teacher of the Year distinction for her implementation of technology to enhance language instruction for the children of the Wind River Reservation.
Lynette serves as a contributing lesson plan writer for the Wind River Education modules and represents an authentic voice for Indigenous people through her involvement with statewide standards initiatives to address how contributions of American Indians are taught in Wyoming classrooms. Lynette's cultural projects include Art for the Sky, HOPA Mountain Cultural Exchange, Five Buffalo Days, and the creation of a language app, Newe Daygwap, for all to learn the Shoshone language. She collaborated with Fort Washakie high school students to develop the first mobile tour of the Wind River Reservation with the travel app, TravelStorys.
Most recently, Lynette works an indigienous consultant for movie and network series to ensure cultural authenticity, historical accuracy, and language coaching for the Eastern Shoshone language.
Formerly an educator, Lynette believes in preserving and sharing the Shoshone language and culture to instill pride within the next generation on the Wind River Reservation.
“Our language is who we are. It’s in our DNA. It’s synonymous with our very existence.”
Lynette St. Clair on her homeland -- the Wind River Reservation.
“We still have all of our traditional beliefs, but we are going forward. We’re not just relics of the past. We are contemporary. We are here, we are living, breathing, human beings just like everybody else, and we have a lot to offer to the world.”
"Zahn seek dawvay." Meaning, "Today is a good day," in Shoshone.
