BRIGHAM CITY — Helen Timbimboo remembers when she was growing up, youths would gather around their elders at night to listen to stories.
"Haa Hoo," Timbimboo recalls elders would say. "That means 'wide awake.' As quick as somebody goes to sleep, the story teller stops."
Timbimboo, 77, says today's Shoshone youths aren't growing up listening to story-telling as she did. But with a new project, she's now able to share one of her traditional Shoshone stories in a bit of a nontraditional way designed to reach her great-grandchildren and others as well.
On Wednesday, Timbimboo and other members of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation gathered at their tribal headquarters in Brigham City to celebrate the release of a new children's book, "Coyote Steals Fire."
There will be a Salt Lake City book release 5:30 p.m. Friday at Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore.
The book is a collaborative effort from toddlers to elders in the tribe. It includes a CD narration by Timbimboo of the story of how "Itsappe," or Old Coyote, stole fire from the people of the south.
"I think many times people don't understand us," Timbimboo said. "Maybe we can help them understand what we're all about."
The children's book also describes the history and culture of the tribe, which was nearly annihilated in the Bear River Massacre on Jan. 29, 1863. As many as 300 people were killed in the attack led by a U.S. Army colonel.
The book release is in advance of the tribe's annual memorial service, which will be held Jan. 30 at the massacre site northwest of Preston, Idaho. The tribe would like to eventually build a memorial park or visitors center at the site.
For Timbimboo, the book helped bring her closer to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The project started about two years ago when cultural resources manager Patty Timbimboo-Madsen was approached by Tamara and Shari Zollinger about the project.
The two taught the entire tribe art techniques from water color to chalk. With the help of their parents and grandparents, children created the book.
"It got elders and children all painting together," Tamara Zollinger said. "Every one of them can see something they did in the book."
Shari Zollinger had helped the Goshute Tribe put together a similar book titled "Pia Toya." The mother-daughter team is hoping to help each Utah tribe create a similar book revealing their unique cultures.
Gwen Timbimboo-Davis says one unique aspect of her tribe is that it has no reservation. Most of the tribal members live along the Wasatch Front, she said. Another group lives in Idaho.
"People really are surprised, especially here in Brigham City, they're surprised this place even exists," she said, referring to the tribal headquarters.
Proceeds from the book will go directly to cultural programs, she said, including a tribal library, a singing project and a language revitalization program.
For Helen Timbimboo, the project was a chance to share her oral history with her great-grandchildren, including 9-year-old Amanda Francom of Sandy.
Francom is proud of the animals she cut out of black construction paper. She eagerly tells her favorite part of the tale: "I like it when Coyote dances around the fire."
E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com