The Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians of the Fort Independence Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Paiute and Shoshone people in Inyo County, California.
Official Tribal Name: Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians of the Fort Independence Reservation
Address: P.O. Box 67, Independence, CA 93526
Phone: (760)-878-5160
Fax:
Email: receptionist@fortindependence.com
Official Website: http://www.fortindependence.com/
Recognition Status: Federally Recognized
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Region:Great Basin
State(s) Today: California
Traditional Territory:
Confederacy: Paiute, Shoshone
Treaties:
Reservations: Fort Independence Reservation
The Fort Independence Reservation was officially established through executive orders Number 2264 and 2375 in 1915 and 1916, respectively.
Land Area: This provided the Tribal members with 360 acres of land adjacent to Oak Creek in Independence, California. In 2000, the Tribe received an additional 200 acres through the California Indian Land Transfer Act for a total of 560 acres.
Tribal Headquarters: Independence, California
Time Zone: Pacific
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The membership consists of 136 tribal members of which approximately half live on the Reservation.
Tribal Enrollment Requirements:
Enrollment requirements of the Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians
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Charter: The formal Tribal government was established in 1965.
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Bands, Gens, and Clans
Related Tribes:
Duck Valley Paiute | Pyramid Lake Paiute | Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe | Ft. McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe | Goshute Confederated Tribes | Kaibab Band of Paiute | Las Vegas Paiute Tribe | Lovelock Paiute Tribe | Moapa River Reservation | Reno/Sparks Indian Colony | Summit Lake Paiute Tribe | Winnemucca Colony | Walker River Paiute Tribe | Yerington Paiute Tribe
Ely Shoshone Tribe | Duckwater Shoshone | Yomba Shoshone Tribe | Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians (comprised of the Battle Mountain Band, Elko Band, South Fork Band, and Wells Band)
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Tribe History:
In the early 1850’s, the United States Army established the Fort Independence military camp on what is known today as the Fort Independence Indian Reservation. The Army diverted water, grew crops and started wood lots to provide for the soldiers. This drew many Paiute people to the surrounding area around the camp because of the food and supplies that were there.
By this time, many farmers and ranchers had been diverting water for crops thereby reducing the amount of water the native plants and grasses so intimately depended on. Living off the land was becoming increasingly harder and forced the native people to work for the settlers in order to provide for their families. When the military left the valley, the native people of the area held various allotments adjacent to the Fort and eventually assumed control of the land.
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