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PART I OF II: 2008's historic Idaho Democratic Convention, held in Boise, ID, June 12-14, invited Idaho Native American Tribal members from the Shoshone-Bannock/Fort Hall, Shoshone-Paiute/Duck Valley, Nez Perce, and Coeur D'Alene tribal communities to take an active part in the convention activities. On June 12th, the Idaho AFL-CIO hosted a Democratic picnic for convention goers. Mr. Ted Howard, Cultural Resource Director, Duck Valley, spoke to picnic participants about the Shoshone-Paiute-Bannock history in the Boise Valley area. 9:49 minutes.

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TNB->Washoe Indians: Dresslerville Colony of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada/California

Posted on Friday, October 22 @ 03:20:14 PDT

Dresslerville Colony of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada/California.. KEYWORDS: dresslerville colony washoe tribe Dresslerville Community Council nevada indians nevada tribe california indians california tribes

The Dresslerville Community Council is one of the four governing bodies of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada/California.

Stumble It!

Dresslerville together with the Washoe Ranch is the largest Colony. It also has the highest population. As of the 1993 tribal census, there were 503 persons in 165 households

Establishment:

It was not until 1917 that the Dresslerville and Carson Parcels began to reestablish a homeland for the Washoe People. From the 1840's on, the Washoe were relentlessly stripped of their Eastern Sierra lands that had sustained them for thousands of years. The influx of miners, emigrants and farmers proved to be unstoppable, and by the 20th Century, the Washoe's lifestyle became one of camping along rivers and at the edges of ranches.

Some of the new residents in Western Nevada eventually began to recognize that the Washoe Tribe must have some kind of homeland. In the second decade of the 20th Century, Washoe leaders, who continued to petition the Federal Government for land which they could use to sustain themselves, and supported by prominent persons from Nevada, finally began to make their case. In testimony in the US Senate in 1916, Senator Harry Lane "who also referred to the Indians as Washoes and said that he had known `personally of those Indians for the reason that I was born in that country,' explained to the committee that `they are camping on the old camp grounds' that their ancestors camped on hundreds of years ago, and the town has come in there and they do not desert their camp ground any further than they have to."

Dresslerville is a collection of several old ranches, the earliest dating back to 1859, which pioneered the development of irrigation systems utilizing the Carson River. Additionally, the site of "12-Mile House," where the present-day Washoe Smokeshop on HWY 395 is located, was a great crossroads of territorial toll-roads. The Cradlebaugh or Esmeralda Toll Roads proceeded east, the Van Sickle and Haines Toll Roads, west to Kingsbury, and the Bryan and Desert Creek Toll Roads went south.

In 1917, William F. Dressler, a local rancher who had employed many of the Tribal members, deeded 40 acres to the government for the Washoe. By 1929, under the supervision of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a water system was installed and "nearly 300 Washoe lived on the 40 acres." The Dresslerville Public School "taught children and served hot lunches daily."

In 1929 Winfield Scott, a Baptist minister, wrote a letter to Senator Oddie asking for "electricity, fire hydrants, and extension of the telephone line and a policeman's house and salary." In 1936, seven new homes were built at Dresslerville with funds provided by the "resettlement administration." The Dresslerville School, which adjoined the Colony was staffed by three teachers.

Through the Indian Reorganization Act, the Washoe acquired the 755 acres known as the Washoe Ranch, between the years of 1936 and 1940. One of the first maps of the complete Parcel titled "New Washoe Indian Colony," illustrates the initial 40 acres, plus 17 new lots along the River bluff. These lots were approximately 500 feet long by 75 feet wide, 0.86 acre. This shape may have indicated that they were laid out for farming although the lands located above the bluff are unsuitable for cultivated row crops.

Location:

The general, legal description for Dresslerville is as follows:

In Township 12 North, Range 20 East:

SECTIONS	DESCRIPTIONS
11	southwest ¼ of the southwest ¼, partial
14	northwest ¼, partial
14	southwest ¼
15	east ½ of the southwest ¼
23	northwest ¼ of the southwest ¼
23	northeast ¼ of the northwest ¼, west of the River
23	northwest ¼ of the northwest ¼
23	northeast ¼ of the northwest ¼
23	southeast ¼ of the northwest ¼, west of the River
23	southwest ¼ of the northeast ¼, west of the River
23	southeast ¼ lying west of River
24	southwest ¼ of the southwest ¼, west of the River
25	northwest ¼ of the northwest ¼, west of the River
25	southeast ¼ of the northwest ¼, west of the River
23	north ½ of the northeast ¼

In 1973, a metes and bounds survey of Dresslerville was completed. The surveyed center line of the Carson River serves as the boundary for 2.15 miles. The Parcel is unique in that the location provides rich, river-bottom farmland and abundant water resources, along with level lands above the 100-year floodplain, suitable for community development.

Acreage:

795 acres

Government:

Jurisdiction:

Federal

Contact Info:

Dresslerville Indian Colony
Dresslerville Community Council
Romaine Smokey Jr.,, Chairperson
1585 Watasheamu Rd.
Gardnerville, NV 89410
Tel# (702) 265-5845

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