Bishop Paiute Tribe facts for kids
Bishop Paiute women's Labor Day parade float, 1970
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,114 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( California) |
|
| Languages | |
| Mono, Timbisha, English | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Northern Paiute and Timbisha peoples |
The Bishop Paiute Tribe is a group of Native American people. They are a federally recognized tribe, meaning the United States government officially recognizes them. They are part of the Mono and Timbisha people. Their homeland is the Owens Valley in eastern California. In 2022, about 1,914 people were part of the Bishop Paiute Tribe.
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Bishop Paiute Reservation
The Bishop Paiute Tribe has its own special land called a federal reservation. It is known as the Bishop Community of the Bishop Colony. This land is in the upper Owens Valley, near the city of Bishop, California.
The reservation is located on the lower parts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It covers about 877 acres (or 3.55 square kilometers). Around 1,441 tribal members live on the reservation today. The reservation was first set up in 1912.
Over time, the size of the reservation changed. In 1932, the land area was made smaller. This change allowed the city of Los Angeles to get water from the Bishop area. Even with these changes, the Bishop Paiute Tribe has continued to thrive on their land.
The Bishop reservation has many important places for its community. They have their own casino, called Wanaaha Casino. There is also a health care center, the Toiyabe Clinic. For students, there is the Barlow Gym, which is a learning center. The tribe also has a gaming commission to oversee their casino.
Languages of the Tribe
The Bishop Paiute community traditionally spoke two main languages. These are the Timbisha language and the Mono language. Both of these languages are part of the Numic language family. This family is a branch of the larger Uto-Aztecan language group. Timbisha is a Central Numic language, and Mono is a Western Numic language.
Life Today for the Bishop Paiute Tribe
The main office for the Bishop Paiute Tribe is in Bishop, California. The tribe is led by a tribal council. This council has five members who are chosen by the community.
With over 2,000 members, the Bishop Paiute community is one of the largest Native American tribes in California. The tribe has its own court system. They also offer many programs to help their members.
To help their community grow, the tribe built the Paiute Palace Casino in 1995. This casino was later updated and renamed Wanaaha Casino. It now includes a restaurant, a lounge, and a deli. The Bishop Paiute Tribe is also very active in using solar power. They have a program that helps install solar panels on hundreds of homes.
Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone Cultural Center
The tribe also runs the Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone Cultural Center. This center is located in Bishop, California. It shows art and old items from the Paiute and Timbisha tribes of the area. The center also works to bring back important cultural items to the tribe.
Their museum store sells beautiful handmade items. These include beadwork, baskets, jewelry, and quillwork. They also sell educational materials about their culture.
Education for Tribal Members
Children on the Bishop Paiute reservation attend local schools. These schools are part of the Bishop Union Elementary School District and the Bishop Joint Union High School District.
