Nevada Tribes


The principle Indian tribes found in Nevada are Shoshone Indians, Paiute Indians, and Washoe Indian tribes.

 

NEVADA FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES
(Federal List Last Updated 5/16)

There are 18 tribes, 4 bands and 4 councils which comprise the federally recognized Nevada Tribal Governments.

Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation (Nevada and Utah)
Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation
Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada
Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation (Nevada and Oregon)
Fort Mojave Indian Tribe (Arizona, California and Nevada)
Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians of the Las Vegas Indian Colony
Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony
Moapa Band of Paiute Indians of the Moapa River Indian Reservation
Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation
Summit Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada

The Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians includes four bands:

Walker River Paiute Tribe of the Walker River Reservation

The Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California includes four councils:

  • Carson Community Council
  • Dresslerville Community Council
  • Stewart Community Council
  • Woodfords Community Council

Winnemucca Indian Colony of Nevada
Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony & Campbell Ranch
Yomba Shoshone Tribe of the Yomba Reservation

NEVADA STATE RECOGNIZED TRIBES
(Not recognized by the Federal Governemnt)

None

UNRECOGNIZED / PETITIONING TRIBES

Pahrump Band of Paiutes, Letter of Intent to Petition 11/9/1987.

FIRST CONTACT TO PRESENT

The Washoe tribe inhabited the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range that forms the border between present-day Nevada and California.

They were highly skilled basket makers and used a dialect that was markedly different from that of the other Nevada Indians.

The Paiute lived in northern and southern Nevada. Both groups depended primarily on hunting, gathering, and fishing for their food.

Much of northeastern region was occupied by the Shoshone. They were part of a much larger group of Native Americans known as the Uto-Aztecan whose culture spread from present-day Washington State to the borders of Mexico.

One of the most famous members of the Nevada Shoshone tribe was Sacajawea who served as guide and interpreter for Lewis and Clark on their expedition.

PRE-CONTACT NEVADA TRIBES
PRE-HISTORIC CULTURES IN NEVADA

900 BC – Patayan and Anasazi Indians inhabited the Colorado River area.

1200 – Mojave Indians plant crops along river banks.

Native Americans inhabited the region that is now the state of Nevada thousands of years before Spanish explorers and fur traders began to explore the area.

Archaeological discoveries of bones and ashes in the southern portion of the state reveal that Native peoples lived there more than 20,000 years ago.

Cave drawings left by these ancient people can be found in the Valley of Fire State Park near present-day Las Vegas.  

RESOURCES
Genealogy:Sources of records on US Indian tribes

Nevada Native American Boarding Schools

 

Article Index:

Places to visit native american culture exhibits in Nevada USA

Here is a list of places to visit in Nevada USA to learn about native american culture.

Churchill County Museum and Archives
1050 S. Maine St.
Fallon, NV 89406

tel (702) 423-3677
fax (702) 423-3662

Clark County Heritage Museum
1830 S. Boulder Hwy.
Henderson, NV 89015

tel (702) 455-7955
fax (702) 455-7948

Lost City Museum, Dept. of Museums, Library and Arts
721 S. Hwy 169
Overton, NV 89040
mailing address:
P.O. BOX 807
Overton, NV 89040
tel (702) 397-2193
fax (702) 397-8987