Although not perceived as one of the more culturally or ethnically diverse states, Idaho is home to many different groups: Basque sheepherders who came from Europe; Asian workers who were brought to help build the state's railroads in the 1800s; the many Mexicans and other Hispanics who came to work in the agricultural industry; the smaller number of African Americans who came to the West to work for the railroads, in the mines, or as soldiers, trappers, and cowboys; and especially Idaho's Native Americans who lived in the Intermountain area at the time of the American westward movement and who continue to live within the boundaries of the state.
Each of the main groups below leads you to more information on ethnic groups which were present in Idaho in the past or which make up a significant minority within Idaho today.
The identification, recognition, and collection of data on Idaho's rich multicultural heritage is a major goal of the Challenge Grant, along with projects on Idaho Science and Social Sciences. To assist in developing Challenge Grant projects dealing with Idaho's multiculturalism, we offer the following -- incomplete -- list of ethnic groups in Idaho and possible themes which might structure a multicultural project. We encourage grant participants to submit corrections, suggestions, and additions to this outline. Several major themes are suggested to organize possible Challenge Grant projects. The major themes include: history, food, shelter, clothing, economy, transportation, ideology, language, art & music, territory or homeland, recreation, life events, social structure (family, community), and political structure. Each of these major themes is divided into subthemes and possible project topics. These vary with the group under discussion. Please submit comments on the themes, subthemes, and project topics to Dorothy Sammons, Challenge Grant, Idaho State University (email: sammdott@isu.edu).
From this page you may also access the following links:
Draft outline of possible Multicultural projectsExample Multicultural projects (under construction)
Links to Multicultural web sites (under construction)