Meet Indigenous Artists Debbie & Willy LaMere at Colter Bay!

Join us September 8 – 14 at the Colter Bay Visitor Center for the Indigenous Arts & Cultural Demonstration Program featuring  Debbie & Willy LaMere, Lemhi Shoshone artists from Fort Hall, Idaho.

Willy performs flint knapping, making arrowheads. He has been flint knapping since age 12 when he watched Dr. Lewis Leaky and National Geographic. Willy thinks flint knapping is an art in which you can always learn more techniques. It fascinates him. It’s a never-ending learning experience. Willy has been coming to Grand Teton since 1972.

Debbie does quillwork and beading. Willy taught her how when they got married. Debbie wanted to keep her culture alive, as it is a dying art working with quills. Porcupines were used before beads, and they are important to her culture. Debbie’s great- great grandmother is Sacajawea. Her dad also helped to build a lot of the historic buildings in Grand Teton National Park.

Grand Teton National Park is special to Debbie and Willy and is their ancestors’ lands. The Tetons are spiritual to the Shoshone people.

Special Evening Program

Join Debbie as she teaches Native Sign Language & Wilbur the Coyote Trickster for a magic performance!

 Saturday, September 12th
 7:00 PM
 Colter Bay Amphitheater

Come experience Indigenous art, culture, storytelling, and traditional craftsmanship in the heart of Grand Teton National Park.