Nevada Indian Tribes

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Given: Surname:

Koso

This is properly a California tribe, though it sometimes ranged into Nevada. (See California.)

Paiute, Northern

The significance of the word "Paiute" is uncertain, though it has been interpreted to mean "water Ute" or "true Ute." See Northern Paiute Location

Paiute, Southern

See Southern Paiute Location

Panamint

See Paiute, Northern.

Pueblo

In historic times none of the Pueblo Indians have occupied any part of Nevada, but remains in the southern section of the State testify to former occupancy by these Indians. (See New Mexico and Arizona.)

Shoshoni

The Western Shoshoni occupied northeastern Nevada as far as, and including, Reese River Valley. (See Idaho.)

Ute

The Ute claimed a small part of eastern Nevada. (See Utah.)
Washo. From the native term Washiu, signifying "person."

Also called:
Tsaisuma, name given them by the northeastern Maidu.

Connections. Until recently the Washo were regarded as constituting a distinct linguistic stock, but it is now believed that they were related to some of the tribes of California. J. P. Harrington has announced a linguistic connection between them and the Chumash, but other students place them in the Hokan linguistic family.

Subdivisions

Lowie gives the following:

Ha'nale'lti, about Woodfords and in Antelope Valley.
Pa'walu, near Minden and Gardnerville.
We'lmelti, about Reno.

 Location. On Truckee River as far down as the Meadows, though their right to the latter was disputed by the Northern Paiute tribes; Carson River down to the first large canyon below Carson City; the borders of Lake Tahoe; and Sierra and other valleys as far as the first range south of Honey Lake, Calif.

History. There is some evidence that the Washo were once established in valleys farther east than the location above given and were driven thence by Northern Paiute tribes. In 1860—62, according to Mooney (1928), the Northern Paiute conquered them in a contest over the site of Carson and forbade them thenceforth to own horses. They had little contact with Whites until very recent years. In later times they lived between Reno and a point a short distance south of Carson City, where they adopted a parasitic mode of life, depending almost entirely on the towns and ranches. In 1865 it was proposed to set aside two reservations for these Indians in Carson and Washoe Valleys, but white settlers had already occupied the territory and the plan was abandoned.

Population. Mooney (1928) made an estimate of 1,000 as of 1845. In 1859 they numbered about 900. In 1907, 300 were reported. The census of 1910 reported 819; that of 1930, 668. In 1937, 629 were reported.

Connections in which they have become noted. The name Washo is preserved in the names of Washoe County, Washoe Lake, Washoe Valley, and Washoe, a post hamlet, all in Nevada. Another locality called Washoe is in Carbon County, Mont.

Additional Resources

• Walker River Valley, Nevada Paiute Indian Records, 1897-1901

• Walker River Valley, Nevada Paiute Indian Records, 1902-06

• Walker River Valley, Nevada Paiute Indian Records, 1907-12

• Walker River Valley, Nevada Paiute Indian Records, 1914-20

• Nevada Indians Wounded in Action, World War II

• Nevada Indian Honored War Dead, World War II

Notes About the Book:

Source: The Indian Tribes of North America, by John R. Swanton, 1953, Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 145, US Government Printing Office, Washington DC.

Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and then ocr'd. Minimal editing has been done, and readers can and should expect some errors in the textual output.

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