 James Trosper

James Trosper is an Eastern Shoshone Sun Dance chief and “a respected voice on traditional Plains Indian spirituality.” He is Director of the High Plains American Indian Research Institute.HPAIRI facilitates a wide variety of partnerships between the University of Wyoming and the tribes of the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fort Washakie, Wyoming “to work together in ways that empower tribes, nurture innovation for American Indian sustainability, and demonstrate respect for Native peoples’ cultures, traditions, laws, and diverse expressions of sovereignty.”

Since 1993 James Trosper has been the Sun Dance Chief and Ceremonial leader of the Eastern Shoshone tribe on the Wind River Reservation.