Indian Village, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Indian Village
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Death Valley Indian Community, looking west toward the village from a hill one mile away across highway 190
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 Indian Village
Location in California
Indian Village
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Inyo County |
| Location | Death Valley National Park |
| Habitat | Furnace Creek oasis |
| Elevation | -197 ft (-60 m) |
Indian Village is a small community located in Furnace Creek, within Death Valley in Inyo County, California. It is not an official town but rather an "unincorporated community," meaning it doesn't have its own local government.
This unique village is home to about 50 members of the Death Valley Timbisha Shoshone Band of California. It sits within the Death Valley National Park, making it a special place where a Native American tribe lives inside a national park.
About Indian Village
Indian Village is found in one of the most interesting places in the United States. It is located at a very low elevation, about 197 feet (60 meters) below sea level. This makes it one of the lowest inhabited places in North America.
Where is Indian Village?
The village is part of the Death Valley Indian Community reservation. This reservation is a designated area for the Timbisha Shoshone people. It is nestled within the vast and famous Death Valley National Park.
A Home for the Timbisha Shoshone
The Timbisha Shoshone people have lived in the Death Valley area for a very long time. Indian Village provides a permanent home for members of their tribe. It helps keep their culture and traditions alive in their ancestral lands.
How Indian Village Was Created
The creation of Indian Village has an interesting history. For a while, there were attempts to move the Timbisha Shoshone people to other reservations far from their homeland. However, these efforts were not successful.
Working with the National Park Service
In 1938, a special agreement was made. Officials from the National Park Service worked with the leaders of the Timbisha Shoshone tribe. They agreed to build a village for the tribal members. This village was to be located near the park's main office at Furnace Creek.
Building the Village
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped construct the village. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that put young men to work on public projects. Their work helped create the homes and facilities for the Timbisha Shoshone people in Indian Village. This agreement allowed the tribe to stay connected to their traditional lands within the national park.
