Treaty of Ruby Valley 1863
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Ruby Valley was a treaty signed in 1863, giving certain rights to the United States
in the Nevada Territory
. The treaty was signed by Numaga (Fish Man), a minor Paiute
head man, in August 1863. As late as December 1992, Western Shoshone
were still disputing the terms of this treaty with President-Elect Clinton
. The United States Congress
had attempted to settle the agreement in 1979, appropriating $26 million to purchase title to 24 million acres (97,000 km²) of tribal lands. By 1992, interest on that appropriation had increased it to $75 million dollars, and it continues to grow.
Chiefs Frank Temoke and Frank Brady adamantly refused the government payoff at Battle Mountain, Nevada
on December 11, 1992. Temoke was sure that the Shoshone would lose their claim to the lands if they accepted the funds. He said, "I did not sign any agreement for money. The actions of the federal government are unconstitutional, immoral, genocide
and against international law
." Brady urged his people to refuse the settlement also, saying, "The people need land, not money." They both faced immense pressure from their own people to sell out because many of the Shoshone wanted the money. Brady said, "Some say we've lost the land already and that may be so, but we still have a fighting chance if we don't take the government payment."
, which authorized payment of $145 million for the transfer of 25 million acres (101,000 km²) to the United States. Seven of the nine tribal councils within the Western Shoshone Nation passed resolutions opposing the legislation.
On March 10, 2006 the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination stated "credible information alleging that the Western Shoshone indigenous people are being denied their traditional rights to land". On January 17, 2006, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Western Shoshone National Council against the United States of America that sought to quiet title
to lands whose boundaries were defined by the Treaty of Ruby Valley (See 415 F. Supp. 2d 1201).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the Nevada Territory
Nevada Territory
The Territory of Nevada was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until October 31, 1864, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Nevada....
. The treaty was signed by Numaga (Fish Man), a minor Paiute
Paiute
Paiute refers to three closely related groups of Native Americans — the Northern Paiute of California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon; the Owens Valley Paiute of California and Nevada; and the Southern Paiute of Arizona, southeastern California and Nevada, and Utah.-Origin of name:The origin of...
head man, in August 1863. As late as December 1992, Western Shoshone
Western Shoshone
Western Shoshone comprises 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...
were still disputing the terms of this treaty with President-Elect Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. The United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
had attempted to settle the agreement in 1979, appropriating $26 million to purchase title to 24 million acres (97,000 km²) of tribal lands. By 1992, interest on that appropriation had increased it to $75 million dollars, and it continues to grow.
Chiefs Frank Temoke and Frank Brady adamantly refused the government payoff at Battle Mountain, Nevada
Battle Mountain, Nevada
Battle Mountain is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Lander County, Nevada, United States. The population was 2,871 at the 2000 census. Though it has no legal status as a municipality, it still functions as the county seat of Lander County...
on December 11, 1992. Temoke was sure that the Shoshone would lose their claim to the lands if they accepted the funds. He said, "I did not sign any agreement for money. The actions of the federal government are unconstitutional, immoral, genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
and against international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
." Brady urged his people to refuse the settlement also, saying, "The people need land, not money." They both faced immense pressure from their own people to sell out because many of the Shoshone wanted the money. Brady said, "Some say we've lost the land already and that may be so, but we still have a fighting chance if we don't take the government payment."
Rulings and court actions in recent history
The United States Federal Government passed the Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act of 2004Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act of 2004
The Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act of 2004 established the legal framework for the distribution of the "Western Shoshone Judgement Funds" stemming from docket 326-K before the Indian Claims Commission...
, which authorized payment of $145 million for the transfer of 25 million acres (101,000 km²) to the United States. Seven of the nine tribal councils within the Western Shoshone Nation passed resolutions opposing the legislation.
On March 10, 2006 the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination stated "credible information alleging that the Western Shoshone indigenous people are being denied their traditional rights to land". On January 17, 2006, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Western Shoshone National Council against the United States of America that sought to quiet title
Quiet title
An action to quiet title is a lawsuit brought in a court having jurisdiction over land disputes, in order to establish a party's title to real property against anyone and everyone, and thus "quiet" any challenges or claims to the title....
to lands whose boundaries were defined by the Treaty of Ruby Valley (See 415 F. Supp. 2d 1201).
See also
- Category: Native American history of Nevada
Sources
- Ontko, Gale (1997). Thunder Over the Ochoco, Lightning Strikes Vol. III. Maverick Publications, Inc. Bend, Oregon.
- The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, Associated Press Release, December 14, 1992.