The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California are a

federally recognized tribe A federally recognized tribe is a Native American tribe recognized by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs as holding a government-to-government relationship with the US federal government. In the United States, the Native American tribe ...

of Washoe

Indians Indian or Indians may refer to: Associated with India * of or related to India ** Indian people ** Indian diaspora ** Languages of India ** Indian English, a dialect of the English language ** Indian cuisine Associated with indigenous peoples o ...

, living in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

and

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

. There are several Washoe communities south and east of

Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe (; Washo language, Washo: ''dáʔaw'') is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the Western United States, straddling the border between California and Nevada. Lying at above sea level, Lake Tahoe is the largest a ...

united under a tribal council. The Washoe people own over 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.

Government

The tribe is headquartered in

Gardnerville, Nevada Gardnerville is an unincorporated town in Douglas County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the county seat of Minden. The population was 6,211 at the 2020 census. U.S. Route 395 runs through the center of Gardnerville. State Route 207, kn ...

and governed by a democratically elected twelve-member tribal council and chairman, which meet on a monthly basis. Chairmen serve four-year terms."Government."
''Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.'' (retrieved 11 May 2010) The current administration is: *Chairman: Serrell Smokey *Vice-chairman: Rueben Vasquez *Secretary/Treasurer: Autumn Burtt *Carson Colony Council Members: Roger McDonald and Chad Malone *Dresslerville Community Council Members: Rueben Vasquez and Herman Fillmore *Off-Reservation Council Members: Jeanine Jim-Bluehorse and Helen Fillmore *Reno-Sparks Council Member: Lorraine Keller *Stewart Community Council Members: Blain Osorio and Darrel Kizer *Woodfords Community Council Members: Irvin Jim and Shannon Guerrero.

Communities

Carson Colony

Established in 1917, the community had 275 resident members in 1991. This colony is located in

Carson City, Nevada Carson City, officially the Carson City Consolidated Municipality, is an Independent city (United States), independent city and the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 58,63 ...

and owns a gymnasium for recreation, youth programs, and hosting tribal events. The colony has four community representatives.

Dresslerville Colony

The Dresslerville Colony is the largest Washoe community in population. 348 members lived there in 1991. It is located on in Gardnerville near the Gardnerville Ranchos. 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 1890, has , with 90 members. They have the Stewart Community Center. Their five community representatives are chaired by Wanda Batchelor.

Washoe Ranch

This ranch in

Carson Valley Douglas County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 49,488. Its county seat is Minden. Douglas County comprises the Gardnerville Ranchos, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area ...

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 (Hung-A-Lel-Ti)

Washoe Tribe thanks firefighters and first responders during Tamarack Fire

The only community in California, Woodfords Community is located near Markleeville. Its Washoe name is "Hung A Lel Ti." It includes the Woodfords Indian Education Center and a community center. Their five community representatives are chaired by DeAnn Roberts. Established in 1970, the community had 338 resident members in 1991. As of the 2010 Census the population was 214. In July 2021, Hung-A-Lel-Ti was evacuated for seven days due to the Tamarack Fire. The community was successfully protected from the fire. The

California Gold Rush The California gold rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the U ...

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 The Dawes Act of 1887 (also known as the General Allotment Act or the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887) regulated land rights on tribal territories within the United States. Named after Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts, it authorized the P ...

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 little access to water. 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. William F. Dressler donated , also in 1917, that became the Dresslerville Colony. The novel ''Rabbit Boss'' by Thomas Sanchez depicts the evolving circumstances of tribal members over a 100-year span ending in the mid-20th century. Under the

Indian Reorganization Act The Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of June 18, 1934, or the Wheeler–Howard Act, was U.S. federal legislation that dealt with the status of American Indians in the United States. It was the centerpiece of what has been often called the "Indian ...

, 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 The Indian Claims Commission (ICC) was a judicial relations arbiter between the United States federal government and Native American tribes. It was established under the Indian Claims Act of 1946 by the United States Congress to hear any longstandin ...

. They filed 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 Indian Colony The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in Nevada was established in the early 1900s by members of related tribes who lived near Reno for work; they became a federally recognized tribe in 1934 after forming a government under the Indian Reorganization Act. ...

, and two from off-reservation areas.D'Azevedo, 496-7 File:0510R Carson Colony Locator Map.svg, Location of Carson Colony in Nevada File:0940R Dresslerville Colony Locator Map.svg, Location of Dresslerville Colony in Nevada File:3980R Stewart Community Locator Map.svg, Location of Stewart Community in Nevada File:4560T Washoe Ranches Trust Land Locator Map.svg, Location of Washoe Ranch in Nevada File:4665R Woodfords Community Locator Map.svg, Location of Woodfords Community in California

Notes

References

* D'Azevedo, Warren L. "Washoe." ''Handbook of North American Indians: Great Basin, Volume 11.'' Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1986. . * Pritzker, Barry M. ''A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples.'' Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. .

External links

Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
, official website
Meeks Bay Resort & Marina
operated by the Washoe Tribe (official website)
A Guide to the Indian Claims Commission claims case no. 288, NC443
Special Collections, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Reno. This collection consists of materials accumulated by the Washoe Tribe during litigation of their claims case before the Indian Claims Commission {{DEFAULTSORT:Washoe Tribe Of Nevada And California Native American tribes in California Native American tribes in Nevada American Indian reservations in California American Indian reservations in Nevada Populated places in Alpine County, California Populated places in Douglas County, Nevada Federally recognized tribes in the United States