Shoshone-Bannock Tribes mourn the passing of community leader
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POCATELLO — The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the community at large are mourning the passing of a leader who dedicated his life to uplifting others.
According to his obituary, Ladd Reed Edmo died on Thursday at Quinn Meadows Care Center, “following a courageous battle with cancer.” Edmo, who served on the Fort Hall Business Council, was laid to rest at Ross Fork Cemetery on Monday, following a weekend of funeral events where friends and family members said goodbye to the man who had done so much for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
“Ladd brought a positive spirit to the Council. He cared about the future of our people by creating opportunities for our youth, supporting education and strengthening our culture and language. He valued community and the teachings passed down through our families. His presence, his humor and the way he looked ahead for the Tribes will be missed,” the Fort Hall Business Council said in a news release sent to EastIdahoNews.com.
Edmo was born in the Ross Fork District of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation on May 31, 1960. His parents, Theron “Tunnyman” and Colleen Edmo, taught him to respect his history and the legacy of his people.
“Ladd carried forward his family’s traditional teachings. At a young age he was guided closely by his father, he cherished the outdoors, salmon fishing, big-game hunting and a profound respect for the land and its people. He was a devoted traditional Sundancer,” his obituary reads.
Before Edmo became a community leader in the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, he went to San Jose, California, where he worked in construction. During this time, Edmo developed, “strong carpentry skills, a passion for building, and a visionary approach to community development,” his obituary reads.
But Edmo wouldn’t stay away from eastern Idaho for long. As his obituary states, “Ladd spent his life deeply connected to his homelands.”
“Those who knew him remember a caring person who participated in community events, volunteered his time, and believed in showing up. He often spoke about leadership as a responsibility to the people and to the Tribes’ Treaty Rights, and he worked to ensure those commitments guided Tribal decisions,” the release says.
By the time of his passing, Edmo was in the midst of serving his fourth term on the Fort Hall Business Council as the treasurer of the Tribes and the Fort Hall District representative.
During his time on the council, Edmo also served as chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, sergeant at arms and as a council member.
And according to the release, “he represented the Tribes in several regional and national leadership organizations, including the Coalition of Large Tribes, National Congress of American Indians, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, and Native American Finance Officers Association, and the Southeast Idaho Council of Governments. His work also included collaboration with Tribal, federal, and local partners on infrastructure projects involving water, wastewater, and environmental needs.”
Notably, his obituary says he appeared before the Idaho State Senate Affairs Committee and advocated “for increased protections and action regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.”
And throughout all this work, his obituary says, “he remained a steadfast tribal council representative for education initiatives.”
His obituary says he was “instrumental” in advancing STEM education opportunities for Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School students, and the release says he “made learning the Shoshone and Bannock languages a priority and encouraged others to carry the language forward for future generations.”
A picture sent by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes shows Edmo speaking at Lookout Point in Pocatello, during the Portneuf Valley Environmental Fair, an event put on by the city of Pocatello that educates on sustainability and environmentalism.
Another notable achievement from Edmo’s obituary is his establishment of Pahsimeroi Capital LLC, “where the Tribes bought back their tribal lands for tribal members to purchase for home ownership.”
The release offers further words of condolences for Edmo’s passing from the Fort Hall Business Council.
“The Fort Hall Business Council extends its condolences to Edmo’s family, loved ones, friends, and all who knew and worked with him. His passing is a significant loss to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and the Council honors his years of service and his contributions to the community,” the release says.