The Bear River Massacre occurred in January 1863 when U.S. Army troops attacked a Shoshone village in Idaho, resulting in the deaths of approximately 250 to 400 individuals, including many non-combatants. This brutal event took place during a harsh winter and exemplified the violent conflicts between Native Americans and U.S. government forces as settlers expanded westward. The massacre highlighted the tragic consequences of American expansionism and remains a somber chapter in the history of U.S.-Native American relations.

The Bear River Massacre of 1863 was a tragic event that found its way into Native oral traditions and later poetry, addressing themes of survival and betrayal. Poets like Simon Ortiz and other Native American writers used their works to document the historical trauma and resilience of Indigenous peoples.