Shoshone-Paiute: who are they?

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The Shoshone-Paiute are Native Americans who can trace their ancestry to a number of related tribes indigenous to the land that today includes southern Idaho and northern Utah in the United States. Members are primarily of the Western Shoshone and Northern Paiute tribes, although the group also includes some other more minor tribal designations. Along with these people were granted the land known as the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, which spans more than 400 square miles (about 1,036 square km) of land straddling Idaho and Nevada. Before European settlers arrived, the Native Americans in this region were primarily hunter-gatherers who existed more or less peacefully with each other. They lived in settlements ruled by tribal chiefs and didn’t have much interaction with each other.

As the federal government of the United States began to take shape, however, nearly all of these people were displaced, and the government created a reservation where they could all live together. Despite some resistance from tribal leaders at first, the reservation today operates as a mostly harmonious amalgamation of people of various tribal backgrounds and identities. Agriculture and farming is still a large part of Duck Valley’s lifestyle and economy, but modern schools and amenities have put it on par with most other farming communities in the United States in terms of resources and opportunities.

Short story

The history of Shoshone-Paiute goes back thousands of years, to a time when the United States was pristine and largely unknown to European and non-European settlers. In early times, the land was worked and traveled by various tribes. In the region that is today Idaho, Nevada, and eastern Oregon, Shoshone and Paiute tribe peoples occupied distinct spaces and did not always interact with each other. They had some similarities when it came to how they lived, typically in simple structures built into the earth, and how they supported themselves, namely by hunting and farming the land; when it came to organization and government, however, they were completely distinct.

Land became an increasing shortage once the movement known as “Western Expansion” took place in the United States. During this time, settlers from New England and elsewhere on the East Coast began moving west, seeking to build cities and expand government. In many respects, the interests of the settlers were in direct conflict with those of the tribal leaders; for many years, there was much conflict and discord surrounding everything from land rights to educational benefits and privileges.

Effect of the reorganisation
At first, the primary goal of most American leaders seemed to be to force tribal peoples to integrate into the societies forming around them. In many cases the government removed the children from their tribal homes and sent them to boarding schools where they would learn English, among other things; there were also a number of bans against tribal gatherings.

Opinions began to change in the early 1920s. In 1934, the government had passed the Wheeler-Howard Act, also known as the Indian Reorganization Act, to provide certain protections for recognized tribes. Among other things, the act required land to be set aside for tribal use and also allowed registered tribes to become self-governing nations with independent governing structures. At least initially, the Western Shoshone and Northern Paiute were considered distinct; only later were they regrouped.
Duck Valley Reservation
The Duck Valley Indian Reservation was originally created for the Western Shoshone tribe in 1877 by President Rutherford B. Hayes in agreement with Captain Sam, a Shoshone leader. In 1886, President Grover Cleveland expanded the reservation for use by the Northern Paiute people as well. Although the boundary of these lands was artificially demarcated, Duck Valley is considered to be within the original territories of both Shoshone and Paiute ancestors.

By most estimates, the earth has been inhabited for approximately 15,000 years. Like many Native Americans, the Shoshone and Paiute lived as hunter-gatherers until the time of European contact. The Shoshone and Paiute tribes, however, also maintained several permanent villages within what are now the states of Nevada, Idaho, and southeastern Oregon.
Modern life and governance
Modern life on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation does not necessarily resemble the traditional existence of Shoshone and Paiute hunter-gatherers. The leaders try to maintain some traditional tribal customs and activities, but in most practical senses the region is not much different from other neighboring communities. The residents live in modern houses, attend regular schools and make use of all kinds of technology. Perhaps the most distinctive thing about the land is that it is not governed by the United States, but rather by tribal elders and elected officials.

The combined Shoshone-Paiute tribes maintain their own government and business council. The community has its own housing authority, department of health and human services, education, and law enforcement and is in all respects a self-sustaining community. Livestock and agriculture are the main industries, although the Shoshone-Paiute also make money from granting fishing and hunting permits to visitors. The tribal membership is estimated at more than 2,000, nearly all of whom live on the reservation.

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