The Paiute (Piute) people are an American Indian tribe with a history and cultural heritage that spans thousands of years.
Their traditional lands include parts of what is now eastern California, western Nevada, and southern Oregon.
The Paiute were not a single, unique, or unified group of Great Basin tribes. Instead, the term is applied to three groups who spoke related languages. These are the Northern Paiute people of northeastern California, northwestern Nevada, eastern Oregon, and southern Idaho; the Southern Paiute people of northern Arizona, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah; and the Mono people of east-central California. This last group was divided into the Owens Valley Paiute (Eastern Mono) and the Monache (Western Mono).
The common languages of the Paiute are related to that of the Timbisha, Shoshoni, and Comanche.
The Northern Paiute people traditionally inhabited the Great Basin region in what is now northeastern California, northwestern Nevada, and southern Oregon. Prior to contact with Europeans, the lifestyle of the Northern Paiute was adapted to their harsh desert climate. Each band inhabited a geographic territory centered on a lake or wetland that attracted game and provided water and fish. Neighboring bands would often cooperate in communal hunts for pronghorn, rabbits, or other game.
In concert with their environment, the Northern Paiutes were largely nomadic, following animal migrations and the availability of seasonal foods. Bands were made up of only a few different family units, although the relationships between individuals and families in neighboring bands were probably close.
When Europeans began moving into the Paiute homelands, the Northern Paiute were forced to band together and become more sedentary for the sake of protection and to show a stronger front in negotiations with the foreigners.
Contemporary Northern Paiute tribes include the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, the Walker River Paiute Tribe, the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, the Yerington Paiute Tribe, the Lovelock Paiute Tribe, the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, the Winnemucca Indian Colony, the Burns Paiute Tribe, the Warm Springs Paiute Tribe, the Bridgeport Paute Indian Colony, the Cedarville Rancheria, the Fort Bidwell Indian Community.
The Southern Paiute people have inhabited the Colorado River basin of southern Nevada, northern Arizona, and southern Utah, while bands of Southern Paiute were scattered throughout this territory.
Prior to European colonization, they practiced floodplain farming in the spring, with reservoirs and irrigation ditches to grow corn, squash, melons, gourds, sunflowers, beans, and wheat.
The Southern Paiutes suffered from slave raids by the Navajo and the Ute, which intensified with the arrival of Spanish and European-Americans. In 1851, Mormon settlers occupied the best Southern Paiute water sources, creating a relationship of dependency with the Mormons, although relations were largely peaceful.
Contemporary Southern Paiute communities are in Las Vegas, Pahrump, and Moapa, in Nevada; Cedar City, Kanosh, Koosharem, Shivwits, and Indian Peaks, in Utah; and Willow Springs, in Arizona. The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah is a federally recognized tribe representing several Southern Paiute bands, including the Cedars Band, the Indian Peaks Band, the Kanosh Band, the Koosharem Band, and the Shivwits Band. Other Southern Paiute bands are without federal recognition.
Traditionally, the Mono people inhabited the central Sierra Nevada, the eastern Sierra, south of Bridgeport, the Mono Basin, and parts of the Great Basin. The Eastern Mono lived along the California-Nevada border, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley, along the Owens River, and south to Owens Lake. They are also known as the Owens Valley Paiute. The Western Mono were situated on the west side, in the south-central foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
Federally recognized Mono tribes include the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, the Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, and the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians of California. There are also unrecognized Mono groups who have not received federal recognition and are without official status and the accompanying benefits, such as a reservation land base. The Mono Lake Paiutes is one of these, having initiated petitions for federal recognition that have thus far been denied.
Online resources representing Paiute or Mono tribes or organizations, recognized or unrecognized, as well as Paiute businesses, industries, schools, medical facilities, events, or other entities or programs, are appropriate for this portion of our web guide, as are businesses owned and operated by Paiute individuals or families.
Recommended Resources
Situated outside the community of Auberry in Fresno County, California, the Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians of California is a federally recognized tribe of Western Mono Indians. The reservation was created in 1909 when the BIA purchased 280 acres of land to be held in trust for the San Joaquin or Big Sandy Band of Western Mono Indians. The tribal government and administration are highlighted, with contacts, employment opportunities, and tribal membership policies.
https://www.bigsandyrancheria.com/
Located at the foot of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bishop, California, the Bishop Paiute Tribe is the fifth-largest in California. Federally recognized, the tribe consists of Mono and Timbisha Indians. Established in 1912, the reservation consists of 877 acres. The tribe's history, governmental structure, tribal council, departments, contacts, and hours are defined. Tribal services, programs, cultural activities, and a tribal calendar are included.
https://www.bishoppaiutetribe.com/
The Bridgeport Indian Colony of California (A'waggu Dükadü) is a federally recognized tribe of Northern Paiute Indians in Mono County, California. The Colony has a 72-acre reservation just outside of the unincorporated community of Bridgeport and consists of descendants from the Miwok, Mono, Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe tribes. A brief history of the Colony is presented, and its council, administrative offices, and community services and programs are discussed.
http://www.bridgeportindiancolony.com/
The tribe consists of descendants of the Wadatika band of Northern Paiutes. It was formed when homeless Northern Paiutes gathered in Burns, Oregon, and the surrounding region, which was allotted to the tribe in 1897. Currently, the tribe owns 13,736 acres in reservation and trust land in Harney County, Oregon, another 10 acres about one-half mile west of Burns, and 71 scattered allotments about twenty-five miles east of Burns. The tribal government and administrative contacts are posted.
https://burnspaiute-nsn.gov/
The Cedarville Rancheria consists of 26 acres in Cedarville and Modoc County, California. The federally recognized tribe is made up of Northern Paiute people. Situated in the northeastern corner of California, the Rancheria and its commercial businesses are in Surprise Valley, and the tribal operations office is in neighboring Alturas, California. A profile of the Rancheria is provided, tribal services and programs are discussed, and a telephone number and contact form are provided.
https://cedarvillerancheria.com/
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
The Confederation is a federally recognized tribe that governs or resides on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. It consists of three Pacific Northwest American Indian tribes: four sub-tribes of the Tenino people, two bands of Wasco Indians, and the Northern Paiutes. Before becoming the Confederated Tribes in the 1930s, they spoke different languages and had their own customs. A brief history of each of the tribes and the Confederation is featured, along with its governmental structure.
https://warmsprings-nsn.gov/
The Paiute-Shoshone Tribe (Toi Ticutta) of the Fallon Reservation and Colony is a federally recognized tribe of Northern Paiute and Western Shoshone Indians in Churchill County, Nevada. The tribe is comprised of two communities: the Stillwater Reservation, about twelve miles from Fallon, and the Fallon Colony, about one mile from Fallon. The tribal council, election committee, departments, programs, and services are highlighted, along with a tribal calendar, job opportunities, and contacts.
https://www.fpst.org/
Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
The federally recognized tribe is made up of Northern Paiute and Western Shoshone peoples, whose reservation spans the Nevada and Oregon border next to Idaho. The two tribes are historically related. The site reviews the tribe's history and culture, introduces the tribal council, departments, and administrative offices, and posts contacts. It also presents news, announcements, and reports from the tribe, along with a calendar of events and an online contact form.
https://fmpst.org/
The Kaibab Indian Reservation, in northern Arizona, is the home of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, descendants of the Kaibab Southern Paiute, whose historic homelands were in northern Arizona and southern Utah. The tribal website features the tribal council, tribal programs, and tribal services, as well as its court system, recreational vehicle park, and cultural preservation programs. A calendar of tribal events, career information, and contacts are featured on the site.
https://www.kaibabpaiute-nsn.gov/
The federally recognized tribe of Southern Paiute people has a 3,850-acre reservation, the Las Vegas Indian Colony, adjacent to the northwest corner of Las Vegas, Nevada. The tribe has a membership of just under one hundred and operates several tribal enterprises, which are highlighted here, with locations and hours. The tribal council and departmental personnel are introduced, including contacts, career opportunities, and a calendar of events. its history and culture are illustrated.
https://www.lvpaiutetribe.com/
The Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony is a federally recognized Northern Paiute tribe in Pershing County, Nevada. Established, its reservation consists of twenty acres, on which about eighty tribal members reside. The address and a map showing the location of the tribal offices in Lovelock, Nevada, are posted, along with administrative and departmental contacts, office hours, an online contact form, and an overview of tribal programs and services.
https://www.paiutetribelovelock.org/
The Moapa Band of Paiute Indians of the Moapa River Indian Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Southern Paiute American Indians in southern Nevada. They have previously been known as the Muappa/Moapat and the Nuwuvi. The site includes a map showing the reservation's location, the tribal council and committees, a tribal directory, notices of regular or upcoming tribal events, career opportunities, and public notices. A private area for tribal members is included.
https://www.moapabandofpaiutes.com/
While the tribe refers to themselves as Kootzaduka'a, other terms used have included the Mono Lake Paiute, Kucadikadi (Kucadɨkadɨ), and Kootzagwae. The American Indian tribe is situated within the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin. They are currently seeking federal recognition as a sovereign Native American Tribal Nation and are currently established as a non-profit organization, the Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a Indian Community Cultural Preservation Association.
https://monolaketribe.us/
North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California
The North Fork Rancheria is an 80-acre reservation situated along the western edge of the Sierra National Forest in Madera County, California, with its tribal headquarters in North Fork. The reservation, comprised of Western Mono Indians, has a tribal website that tells its history, language, and stories, as well as its tribal council, enrollment policies, election information, and administrative and departmental contacts. Other resources include an overview of tribal projects and events.
https://www.northforkrancheria-nsn.gov/
Northern Paiute Language Project
Operated through the University of California, Santa Cruz, the project is designed to preserve and strengthen the Numu (Northern Paiute) language of the Koodzabe Duka'a ("alkali fly pupae eaters" of Mono Lake, Lee Vining, California), the Way Dukadu or Pogi Dukadu ("rye grass seed eaters" of Bridgeport, California), the Onabe Dukadu ("salt eaters" of Coleville, California), and the people of Pehabe Paa'away ("the place of sweet water", Sweetwater, Nevada).
https://paiute.ucsc.edu/
The federally recognized tribe of Southern Paiute and Ute Indians is in southwestern Utah. Its reservation consists of ten separate parcels of land spread throughout four counties, with its headquarters in Cedar City. The tribe's website provides a brief profile, along with its governmental structure, tribal council, constituent bands, and culture. Its enrollment policies, member services, programs, and services are defined, along with announcements of upcoming events.
https://pitu.gov/
Situated in northwestern Nevada, about thirty-five miles northeast of Reno, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation is a federally recognized tribe representing two Northern Paiute bands, the Kuyuidökadö (Cui Yui Ticutta) and the Tasiget tuviwarai. The reservation is mostly in Washoe County, with small portions extending into Storey and Lyon counties. Tribal council minutes and resolutions are posted, along with information and contacts for the tribal council, departments, and court.
https://plpt.nsn.us/
Established in the early 1900s by members of related tribes who lived near Reno for work, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony became a federally recognized tribe in 1934 after forming a tribal government under the Indian Reorganization Act. The tribal government's organizational structure is detailed, and it is introduced, with administrative and departmental contacts. Tribal programs and services, businesses and enterprises, media coverage, and visitor information are included.
https://www.rsic.org/
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe
Headquartered in Tuba City, Arizona, the tribe's primary communities are in two clusters: the southern area includes Willow Springs, Hidden Springs, Rough Rock Point, Tuba City, and Cow Springs, while the northern area includes Paiute Canyon in Arizona and Navajo Mountain in Utah. Other members reside in White Mesa and Blanding, Utah. The federally recognized tribe is in litigation to restore its land base. The tribal government is introduced, and a calendar of events and contacts is included.
https://www.sanjuanpaiute-nsn.gov/
The Shivwits (See’veets eng) Band of Paiutes is a federally recognized tribe in southwestern Utah and one of five bands within the inter-tribal government of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah. The tribe is made up of descendants of Southern Paiutes. The history of the Shivwits Band is told on the official tribal website, which includes an introduction to the band council, its secretary, administrative contacts, and its SBC board, notices, and a calendar of events.
https://shivwits.org/
Sierra Tribal Consortium/Turtle Lodge
The American Indian tribal organization represents four federally recognized tribes (Big Sandy Rancheria Band of Western Mono Indians, Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians, North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, and Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians), governed by a board of directors. Its primary function is to provide client-centered substance use disorder treatment services to the American Indian population. At Turtle Lodge, clients learn the causes and results.
https://www.sierratribal.org/
Established in 1913, the federally recognized Northern Paiute tribe has a federal reservation, the Summit Lake Indian Reservation, with 12,573 acres of reservation land and 10,098 acres of trust lands. Situated in the upper-west corner of Nevada, the reservation is the most remote Indian reservation in Nevada. The address for its administrative offices is posted, along with its hours of operation and contacts, council minutes and resolutions, and enrollment information.
https://www.summitlaketribe.org/
The Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of American Indians in Tulare County, California. The reservation includes Yokuts, Yowlumne, Wukchumnis, Tübatulabal, and Western Mono Indians. The Tule River Farm became the Tule River Reservation in 1864 but relocated in 1873. Headquartered in Porterville, the tribe's location, governmental structure, council, boards, committees, and departments are set forth.
https://tulerivertribe-nsn.gov/
The Walker River Indian Reservation is in central Nevada. It is home to the Walker River Paiute Tribe, a federally recognized tribe of Northern Paiute people. The tribe represents two Northern Paiute tribes: the Aga'idökadö (Agai Ticutta) and the Pakwidökadö (Pugwi Ticutta). Tribal council meeting minutes, job opportunities and applications, public election information and responses, requests for proposals, economic development, business structure, and investment options are set forth.
https://www.wrpt.org/
The Winnemucca Indian Colony of Nevada is a federally recognized tribe of Western Shoshone and Northern Paiute Indians in northwestern Nevada. Its reservation consists of a 20-acre parcel within the urban area of the City of Winnemucca and 320 acres of rural land on the southern edge of the city. According to its website, the Colony has been deprived of the use of its lands since the assassination of its Chairman in February 2000. Its Reno office location and contacts are posted on the site.
https://winnemuccaindiancolony.org/
The Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony and Campbell Ranch is a federally recognized tribe of Northern Paiute Indians in western Nevada. The Yerington Reservation and Trust Lands were established in 1916 and again in 1936. The official tribal website includes historical and cultural information, job openings and contacts, notices, educational programs, medical care services, community safety, judicial services, tax assistance, social services, and upcoming events.
https://yeringtonpaiute.us/
