Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony of California facts for kids
The Bridgeport Indian Colony of California is a Native American tribe located in Mono County, California. Their traditional name in their language is A'waggu Dükadü, which means "those who eat suckers." This tribe is officially recognized by the United States government. They are part of the Northern Paiute group.
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Where is the Bridgeport Indian Colony?
The Bridgeport Indian Colony has its own special land, called a reservation, in Mono County, California. It's very close to the border of Nevada, near a town called Bridgeport, California. The reservation is about 72 acres big.
Around 55 tribal members live on the reservation today. In total, there are about 105 enrolled tribal members. The people living on the reservation come from different tribes. These include the Miwok, Mono, Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe tribes. The reservation is located near the southeast part of Bridgeport Reservoir.
What Language Do They Speak?
The people of the Bridgeport Indian Colony traditionally speak the Northern Paiute language. This language is part of a larger group called Uto-Aztecan languages. Their specific way of speaking is sometimes called "Southern Nevada Northern Paiute." Today, there is a special project at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This project is working to keep the Northern Paiute language alive and help more people learn it.
Education for Tribal Members
Students from the Bridgeport Indian Colony attend schools in the Eastern Sierra Unified School District.
History of the Tribe
The Bridgeport Indian Colony became officially recognized by the United States government on October 17, 1974. This recognition means the tribe has a special relationship with the government.
How the Tribe is Governed Today
The tribe is led by a group of five people called the Tribal Council. They make important decisions for the community. The current members of the Tribal Council are:
- John Glazier, who is the Tribal Chairman
- Thomas Crawford, who is the Vice-Chairman
- Herb Glazier, who is a Member-at-Large (living on the reservation)
- David Rambeau, who is a Member-at-Large (living off the reservation)
- Art Sam, who is the Secretary-Treasurer
