Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
Encyclopedia
The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California are a federally recognized tribe of Washoe
Indians, living in California
and Nevada
. They are several communities south and east of Lake Tahoe
united under a tribal council. The tribe owns over 64300 acres (260.2 km²) in different parcels.
and governed by a democratically elected twelve-member tribal council and chairman, which meet on a monthly basis. Chairmen serve four-year terms.
The current administration is as follows:
and owns a gymnasium for recreation, youth programs, and hosting tribal events. They have four community representatives.
. Most of the tribe's public buildings are here, including a community center, gymnasium, and park. They have five community representatives.
. They have the Woodfords Indian Education Center and a community center. Their five community representatives are chaired by DeAnn Roberts. Established in 1970, the 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) community had 338 resident members in 1991.
brought an influx of European-American settlers in the mid-19th century. Calls for the establishment of a Washoe reservation and compensation for lost resources, such as the piñon crop, were ignored by the US in the late 19th century. Under the Dawes Act
of 1887, Washoes lands were broken up into individual allotments; however, instead of the tribe retaining valuable lands in the Pine Nut Mountains
, the allotted sections were typically barren lands with no access to water. The better lands were taken by non-Indians.
In the early 20th century, Washoes worked as ranch hands, as construction workers, domestic servants, or laundry workers. Cattle ranchers leased Washoe land for minimal amounts of money. In 1917, the US government, despite local protest, purchased a tract of land for the Washoe, that became the Carson Colony. A rancher donated 40 acres (161,874.4 m²), also in 1917, that became the Dresslerville Colony.
Under the Indian Reorganization Act
, the colonies in the Carson Valley area wrote a new constitution and by-laws, which they ratified on December 16, 1935. They gained federal recognition on January 24, 1936.
In 1948, the tribe began preparing a case for the Indian Claims Commission
. They files Washoe Case #288 before the ICC in 1951, asking for $43.8 million for land, fishing and hunting rights, minerals, and timber that had been wrongly taken from the tribe, plus interest accrued since 1863. The case was finally settled in 1970, when the tribe was only awarded $5 million.
In the 1960s, John Henry Dressler helped to form the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, a liaison between tribal, state, and federal agencies. Since 1966, the council has nine representatives: two from Dresslerville Colony, two from Woodfords Colony, one from the Washoe of Reno Sparks Colony, and two from off-reservation areas.
Washoe
Washoe or washo could refer to:*Washoe -- a chimpanzee that was taught by humans to speak in American Sign Language*Before it was made a Territory, Nevada was popularly known as Washoe*Washoe County, Nevada*Washoe Lake - lake in Nevada...
Indians, living in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. They are several communities south and east of Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
united under a tribal council. The tribe owns over 64300 acres (260.2 km²) in different parcels.
Government
The tribe is headquartered in Gardnerville, NevadaGardnerville, Nevada
Gardnerville is a census-designated place in Douglas County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the county seat of Minden. The population was 3,357 at the 2000 census....
and governed by a democratically elected twelve-member tribal council and chairman, which meet on a monthly basis. Chairmen serve four-year terms.
The current administration is as follows:
- Chairwoman: Wanda Batchelor
- Vice-Chairman: Lloyd Wyatt
- Secretary/Treasurer: Tamara Crawford
- Carson Colony Council Members: W.Gary Nevers and Chad Malone
- Dresslerville Community Council Members: Lloyd Wyatt and Arlen Wyatt
- Off-Reservation Council Members: Elwood Rakow and Darrel Cruz
- Reno-Sparks Council Member: Lancia Astor
- Stewart Community Council Members: David Tom and Darrel Kizer
- Woodfords Community Council Members: DeAnn Roberts and Daniel Crawford.
Carson Colony
Established in 1917, the 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) community had 275 resident members in 1991. This colony is located in Carson City, NevadaCarson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
and owns a gymnasium for recreation, youth programs, and hosting tribal events. They have four community representatives.
Dresslerville Colony
This is the largest Washoe community in population. 348 members lived there in 1991. It is located on 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) in Gardnerville near the Gardnerville RanchosGardnerville Ranchos, Nevada
Gardnerville Ranchos is a census-designated place in Douglas County, Nevada, United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 11,054...
. Most of the tribe's public buildings are here, including a community center, gymnasium, and park. They have five community representatives.
Stewart Community
Located at the south side of Carson City, this community was established in 1990, has 2960 acres (12 km²), with 90 members. They have the Stewart Community Center. Their five community representatives are chaired by Wanda Batchelor.Washoe Ranch
This 95 acres (384,451.7 m²) ranch in Carson Valley was purchased by the tribe in 1938 and 1940. There the tribe collectively raised hogs, sheep, and a herd of dairy cows. They grew potatoes and peaches. When farm production decreased in the 1950s, the land was temporarily leased to non-Native farmers.Woodfords Community
The only community in California, Woodfords Community is located in MarkleevilleMarkleeville, California
Markleeville is a census-designated place and the county seat of Alpine County, California. The population was 210 at the 2010 census, up from 197 at the 2000 census.The CDP of Markleeville also includes Woodfords....
. They have the Woodfords Indian Education Center and a community center. Their five community representatives are chaired by DeAnn Roberts. Established in 1970, the 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) community had 338 resident members in 1991.
History
The California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
brought an influx of European-American settlers in the mid-19th century. Calls for the establishment of a Washoe reservation and compensation for lost resources, such as the piñon crop, were ignored by the US in the late 19th century. Under the Dawes Act
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, adopted by Congress in 1887, authorized the President of the United States to survey Indian tribal land and divide the land into allotments for individual Indians. The Act was named for its sponsor, Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts. The Dawes Act was amended in 1891 and again...
of 1887, Washoes lands were broken up into individual allotments; however, instead of the tribe retaining valuable lands in the Pine Nut Mountains
Pine Nut Mountains
The Pine Nut Mountains are a north-south mountain range in the Great Basin, in Storey County of northwestern Nevada, United States.-Geography:...
, the allotted sections were typically barren lands with no access to water. The better lands were taken by non-Indians.
In the early 20th century, Washoes worked as ranch hands, as construction workers, domestic servants, or laundry workers. Cattle ranchers leased Washoe land for minimal amounts of money. In 1917, the US government, despite local protest, purchased a tract of land for the Washoe, that became the Carson Colony. A rancher donated 40 acres (161,874.4 m²), also in 1917, that became the Dresslerville Colony.
Under the Indian Reorganization Act
Indian Reorganization Act
The Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934 the Indian New Deal, was U.S. federal legislation that secured certain rights to Native Americans, including Alaska Natives...
, the colonies in the Carson Valley area wrote a new constitution and by-laws, which they ratified on December 16, 1935. They gained federal recognition on January 24, 1936.
In 1948, the tribe began preparing a case for the Indian Claims Commission
Indian claims commission
The Indian Claims Commission was a judicial panel for relations between the United States Federal Government and Native American tribes. It was established in 1946 by the United States Congress to hear claims of Indian tribes against the United States...
. They files Washoe Case #288 before the ICC in 1951, asking for $43.8 million for land, fishing and hunting rights, minerals, and timber that had been wrongly taken from the tribe, plus interest accrued since 1863. The case was finally settled in 1970, when the tribe was only awarded $5 million.
In the 1960s, John Henry Dressler helped to form the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, a liaison between tribal, state, and federal agencies. Since 1966, the council has nine representatives: two from Dresslerville Colony, two from Woodfords Colony, one from the Washoe of Reno Sparks Colony, and two from off-reservation areas.
External links
- Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, official website