Wayland Edmo Bonatsie

Funeral services for Wayland Edmo Bonatsie will be held at Rocky Mountain Hall in Fort Washakie, WYO beginning with a visitation on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM. Traditional services will be on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Sacajawea Cemetery with feast and giveaway afterwards.

Wayland was born on November 8, 1954, to Edward Bonatsie Sr and Lucy Hill Bonatsie, and passed away on July 5, 2026 at his home in Crowheart. He attended school in Dubois and Morton schools, graduating in 1974. Wayland was an Army Veteran, having served in the Vietnam Helicopter Wars. He married Mary Lynn in 1978, but they divorced in 1988. Wayland previously worked as a chef in Dubois and at the Shoshone Rose Casino. He raised and trained horses on his family’s Diamond 6 ranch in Crowheart.

Wayland was a song keeper of the Shoshone Tribe, learning traditional songs early in his life from his father Ed, who composed many songs. There are many types of Shoshone songs and Wayland knew them all: including Sun Dance songs, honor songs, songs for the many traditional dances of the Shoshone Tribe – Warbonnet song, Scalp Dance song, Coin Dance song, Giveaway song, He knew all the Gift of the Waters songs and a special song composed by his grandfather Red Lake at the signing of the Fort Bridger Treaty called the Big Horse Dance song. He organized a presentation of this dance at the 150th anniversary of the signing of the treaty with Starr Weed, Jr as the dancer. Wayland was a founding member of the Crowheart Big Wind Singers along with several of his family members and friends. He also helped start the Crowheart Powwow, and he served on the Shoshone Entertainment Committee.

Wayland was very artistic, as was most of his family, a trained cartoonist, and made many traditional arts and crafts, tanned hides, and was a prolific beadwork artist. He participated in the Wyoming Arts Council mentoring program as a master drum keeper/maker. He worked with the Eastern Shoshone Cultural Center in many activities including recording for the online Shoshone dictionary, recording the Sinks Canyon song that can be accessed there via QR code, singing the Crowheart Battle song at the dedication of the new Crowheart Butte sign, and recently representing the Shoshone Tribe at the 150th Commemoration of the Battle of the Rosebud, singing an honor song and the Shoshone Flag Song. Wayland was in the recent Netflix production of American Primeval serving as a Shoshone Language consultant, as well as appearing as the Shoshone Chief on screen. Wayland enjoyed attending powwows and spending time at the casino.

Wayland is survived by his grandson, Quinlin James Hernandez and great-grandson Arick Shoban Hernandez, and sisters Mary Jane Goggles, Rose Wadda, and Katherine Shakespeare, numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, and families of Leda Aoah, Betty Hill, Nola Weeks, Kassel Weeks, Sam Weeks, Norrine Panzetanga, Vernetta Panzatanga, Drusilla Gould, Benna Gould, Verlon and Sharice Gould, Videla Gould, Lynelle Vonfelt, Elsa St. Clair, Helen Grace Ward, Thelma and Mel Sather, Jake and Trish Hill, Arland Moss, Shawn and Serene Collins, Tom and Adrienne Dunlap, Chester and Vicki Pingree, John and Kelly Pingree, Ivora Hill, Daisy Hill, Ronald Braman, Lynette Braman, Beverly Hill, Rocky and Christy Hill, Kathy Hill, Delmont Shakespeare, Chuck and Jolynn Washakie, Sybil Thunderhawk, Milton Bianas-Cecil, Karen Snyder, Carol Ferris, Maude Reddest –Fonseca, Alva-Rod Rolliard, Billy and Tiffany Velarde, Annie Velarde, Cody and Gail Teichert, Audrey Chippewa, Wesley Chippewa, Moe Cady, Denise Hill, Charlene Tahdooahnippah, Linda, Donna, and Pearl Tillman, Windin Tillman, Terri Tillman, Coburn, Rianna, Claydina, and Verna No Ear, Austin and Bobbi Hill, Fin and Talea Jorgenson, Little Wind LeBeau, Wind River LeBeau, Mike Hill, Victoria and Tyson Jeannotte, Sonnicant LeBeau, Darrold Bronco and Ina Weed, Lynn “Muccup” and Rae McAdams, George, Ann, and Cornisa Abeyta, Josh and Stacia Davis, Nick Cortez, James and Theresa Trosper, Adam and Theresa Hill, Colley Willow, Sheila Washington, Edith Hill, Kammie Hill, Karessa George, Missy Hill, Wilson Hill, Jodie McAdams, Shawn McAdams, Tom McAdams, Ernie and Georgette Running Eagle, Anthony Hill, Percel and Lory Jay SunRhodes, Newly Ridley, Pamela, Marlo, Ann, and Chester Friday, Irvina Hidatsa, Camille Day, Glen Wesaw, and the extended Edmo and Ballard families, and special friend Mithzie Seaman, and friends and family in Burris and Crowheart.

Wayland was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents Beaver and Queene Hill and Egan (Red Lake) and Pensive Moon Bonatsie, and sisters Ralphaelita Stump, Deeatrice No Ear, Marcella Pocatello, Helene Oldman, brother-in-law Lyle Oldman, and brothers, Peterson, Irving, Edward Jr and Victor Bonatsie, Dexter Aoah, Wilfred Hill Jr, Stanford and Dee Hill, Woody and Darlene Hill, TaKaya Hill, Nelda Aoah, Sara Aoah, Alice McGill, Tony and Roberta Engavo, Mildred Weeks, Pansy St. Clair, Sterleen Hill, Angel Hill. Apologies for missing anyone.

Please sign the online guestbook: hudsonsfh.com.