Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation
kuyuuiba
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Reservation
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Location of Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation
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| Government | |
| • Type | Tribal Council |
| • Body | Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,922 km2 (742.2 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1,469 km2 (567.2 sq mi) |
| • Water | 450 km2 (175 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,035 m (3,397 ft) |
| Population
(2017)
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| • Total | 1,300 (on reservation) 2,288 (enrolled members) |
The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation (Northern Paiute: kuyuuiba) is a special area of land in northwestern Nevada. It is about 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Reno. This land is located in Washoe, Storey, and Lyon counties.
This reservation is managed by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. This tribe is officially recognized by the U.S. government. It includes two groups of Northern Paiute people:
- The larger group is called Kuyuidökadö (Cui Yui Ticutta), which means "Cui-ui-Fish-Eaters."
- The smaller group is called Tasiget tuviwarai, meaning "Those who live amidst the mountains."
Most of the reservation (almost 99.9%) is in Washoe County. Small parts are in the other two counties, near the city of Fernley.
In 1993, about 1,603 people lived on the reservation. At that time, 2,253 people were official members of the tribe. By the year 2000, the population on the reservation grew to 1,734 people.
In 2016, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe worked with the Walker River Paiute tribe. They won a court case to get voting places on their reservations. Before this, tribal members had to travel many miles to vote. Early voting started on October 22, and twice as many people voted compared to the 2012 election.
Also in October 2016, the Pyramid Lake Tribe received more land. This happened under a law called the Nevada Native Nations Land Act. The tribe gained about 6,357 acres (2,573 ha) of land. This land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It's important to know that gambling is not allowed on these new lands.
Contents
About the Reservation Land
The reservation covers 742.2 square miles (1,922 km2) of land. It includes all of Pyramid Lake. It also has all of the Truckee River from the Big Bend area northward. Pyramid Lake itself makes up about 25% of the reservation's total area.
The reservation also includes:
- A small part of Winnemucca Lake.
- Most of the Lake Range mountains.
- Parts of the Virginia Mountains and Pah Rah Range.
- The southern end of the Smoke Creek Desert.
Communities on the Reservation
Three main communities are located on the reservation:
- Wadsworth is the largest community. It is near the Truckee River's Big Bend, just north of the town of Fernley.
- Nixon is where the tribal government is located. It is at the southern end of Pyramid Lake.
- Sutcliffe is on the western shore of the lake.
There are also a few ranches along the Truckee River between Wadsworth and Nixon.
How the Reservation Was Created
The land for the Northern Paiute people was first set aside in 1859. This was done at the request of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. However, the land was not officially mapped until 1865. The reservation's status was unclear for some time.
Then, President Ulysses S. Grant officially confirmed the reservation. He did this with an executive order on March 23, 1874. An executive order is a special rule or command given by the President. At that time, creating reservations this way was new. Most reservations before were made by treaties or laws passed by Congress.
Later court decisions confirmed that reservations created by executive orders are valid. They also decided that the Pyramid Lake Reservation officially started in 1859, not 1874. This earlier date is important for two reasons:
- It affects the tribe's water rights. This means how much water they can use and when they started having that right.
- It affects who owns land within the reservation, especially for people who are not tribal members.
The tribe has had many legal battles over these issues. In 1968, the Northern Paiute people received a settlement for their land claims. This was money paid to them because their lands were taken.
In October 2016, the Nevada Native Nations Land Act (PL No: 114-232) was passed. This law allowed the U.S. government to give certain public lands to six of Nevada's nine recognized tribes. These lands were from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service. The goal was to make their reservations larger and more stable. The Pyramid Lake Reservation received 6,357 acres (2,573 ha) of BLM land. Gambling is not allowed on these new lands.
Protecting the Environment
The Lahontan cutthroat trout is a special fish found in Pyramid Lake. Many anglers (people who fish) come from Reno and other places to catch them. Selling fishing licenses and boating permits brings a lot of money to the tribe. In the past, before the Derby Dam was built, the lake had a large fishing business. This brought even more money to the tribe. The dam changed the flow of the Truckee River, which affected the lake.
Over time, the water levels in Pyramid Lake have been getting lower. Also, the water quality has been affected by things flowing into the lake from upstream. These include pollution from specific places (like factories) and from wider areas (like farms). Many studies have been done on Pyramid Lake. Scientists use special computer models to check water quality. They look at things like nitrogen, phosphorus, and dissolved oxygen in the water.
