| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,096 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Nevada) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Shoshoni | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Western Shoshone tribes [1] |
The Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada is a federally recognized tribe of Western Shoshone people in northeastern Nevada.
The tribe organized under the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act. Western Shoshone elected a traditional council, led by Chief Muchach Temoak and his descendants, to create the new governments; however, the United States refused to recognize the traditional council and created the Te-Moaks Bands Council. Traditionalists did not feel adequately represented by this council and created the United Western Shoshone Legal Defense and Education Association, now known as the Sacred Lands Association in 1974. The traditionalists argued before the Indian Claims Commission (ICC) that the Te-Moak Bands Council did not speak for them and the tribe never gave up their title to their traditional lands. Their claims and appeal were rejected in 1979, when the ICC ruled that the Western Shoshone lost title to their lands in the Treaty of Ruby Valley in 1863. In 1980 the courts ruled that the lands were not ceded in 1863 but were lost on 6 December 1979. Despite appeals by the tribe, the US Supreme Court rules in 1985 that $26 million was paid to the tribe in 1979 for 24 million acres (97,000 km2) of land. [2] The tribe is still fighting to reclaim their traditional lands today.
The tribe's corporate charter was approved in 1938 and their current constitution was amended in 1982. [3]
The Te-Moak Tribe Council is headquartered in Elko, Nevada. The tribe is composed of four constituent bands. Their constitution allows for an unlimited number of reservations and Indian colonies to join the tribe. [4]
This band governs the Battle Mountain reservation, at 40°39′51″N116°58′11″W / 40.66417°N 116.96972°W , in Battle Mountain, Nevada. [5] Traditionally, they are the Tonomudza/Tonammutsa [6] (Donammuzi) band of Western Shoshone. Their separate parcels of land total 683.3 acres (2.765 km2). Current reservation population is 165 and total tribal enrollment is 516. Their current band council includes:
The Elko Indian Colony, at 40°51′02″N115°45′55″W / 40.85056°N 115.76528°W , was established in 1918. [5] They govern 192.8 acres (0.780 km2) of federal trust lands. Tribal enrollment is 1,143. Only 6% of the band graduated from high school and their average per capita annual income is $7,000. They are headquartered in Elko, Nevada and their current band council is as follows:
The South Fork and Odgers Ranch Indian Reservation, at 40°34′22″N115°36′08″W / 40.57278°N 115.60222°W , was established in Lee, Nevada in 1941 [10] The Band governs 19,049 acres (77.09 km2) of land. 59 members live on the reservation and their total band enrollment is 176. Their current band council is as follows:
The Wells Indian Colony, at 41°07′01″N114°58′44″W / 41.11694°N 114.97889°W , was established in 1980 and is 80 acres (320,000 m2) large. [10] Traditionally, they are the Kuiyudika band of Western Shoshone, after a desert plant used for food; within this group were at least two other smaller groups, the Doyogadzu Newenee (end-of-the-mountain people) and the Waiha-Muta Newenee (fire-burning-on ridge people). Clover Valley served as a rendezvous spot among these small Newe bands. Their headquarters is in Wells, Nevada. 39 members live on the reservation, and total band enrollment is 177. Their current band council is as follows:
Owyhee is a census-designated place (CDP) in Elko County, Nevada, United States, along the banks of the Owyhee River. The population was 953 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is the primary town of the federally recognized Shoshone-Paiute tribe's Duck Valley Indian Reservation, which covers portions of northern Nevada and southern Idaho, and the majority of its population are Native American.
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe with four large cultural/linguistic divisions:
The Goshutes are a tribe of Western Shoshone Native Americans. There are two federally recognized Goshute tribes today:
The Bannock tribe were originally Northern Paiute but are more culturally affiliated with the Northern Shoshone. They are in the Great Basin classification of Indigenous People. Their traditional lands include northern Nevada, southeastern Oregon, southern Idaho, and western Wyoming. Today they are enrolled in the federally recognized Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation of Idaho, located on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Western Shoshone comprise several Shoshone tribes that are indigenous to the Great Basin and have lands identified in the Treaty of Ruby Valley 1863. They resided in Idaho, Nevada, California, and Utah. The tribes are very closely related culturally to the Paiute, Goshute, Bannock, Ute, and Timbisha tribes.
The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Chemehuevi people, who are the southernmost branch of Southern Paiute people.
The South Fork Humboldt River is a river in Elko County, Nevada, United States.
Lee is an unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The community is located on the reservation land belonging to, and constituting the sole organized community of, the South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada. Lee is located at the western foothills of the Ruby Mountains range, within the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The Duck Valley Indian Reservation was established in the 19th century for the federally recognized Shoshone-Paiute Tribe. It is isolated in the high desert of the western United States, and lies on the state line, the 42nd parallel, between Idaho and Nevada.
The Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California is a federally recognized tribe of Mono Native Americans. Cold Springs Rancheria is the tribe's reservation, which is located in Fresno County, California. As of the 2010 Census the population was 184.
The Bridgeport Indian Colony of California, formerly known as the "Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony of California", is a federally recognized tribe of Northern Paiute Indians in Mono County, California, United States.
The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California are a federally recognized tribe of Washoe Indians, living in California and Nevada. There are several Washoe communities south and east of Lake Tahoe united under a tribal council. The Washoe people own over 64,300 acres (26,000 ha) in public domain allotments (PDA); PDAs are land reserved out of the public domain for use by an Indian person or family, but unlike reservations, Tribal governments hold no jurisdiction over them. Nevertheless, PDAs are a consistent part of Indian Country.
The Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Lone Pine Community of the Lone Pine Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Mono and Timbisha Native American Indians near Lone Pine in Inyo County, California. They are related to the Owens Valley Paiute.
The Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony is a federally recognized tribe of Northern Paiute and Western Shoshone Indians in Churchill County, Nevada. Their autonym is Toi Ticutta meaning "Cattail Eaters."
The Summit Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada is a federally recognized tribe of Northern Paiute Indians in northwest Nevada. Their autonym in their language is Agai Panina Ticutta, meaning "Fish Lake Eaters." They are traditionally known as the "Fish Eaters."
The Winnemucca Indian Colony of Nevada is a federally recognized tribe of Western Shoshone and Northern Paiute Indians in northwestern Nevada.
The Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Western Shoshone, based in central Nevada in the high desert Railroad Valley, in northern Nye County. Their autonym is Tsaidüka in their Shoshoni language, meaning "Eaters of tule."
The Yomba Shoshone Tribe of the Yomba Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Western Shoshone Indians in central Nevada.
The Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation, also known as the Benton Paiute Tribe, is a federally recognized Great Basin tribe in Mono County, California.
The Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of Northern Paiute and Western Shoshone peoples, whose reservation Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation spans the Nevada and Oregon border next to Idaho. The reservation has 16,354 acres (6,618 ha) in Nevada and 19,000 acres (7,700 ha) in Oregon.