Newe Sogobia Historic Background
Recognition of Western Shoshone sovereign territory was formalized by the United States government when it signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship at Ruby Valley (NV) in 1863. The purpose of the treaty was to give the U.S. a right-of-way through Shoshone territory for railroads and stage lines. Newe Sogobia, the Western Shoshone Nation, includes most of Nevada, and extends into Idaho, Utah and Southern California.
In 1979 the Indian Claims Commission declared the treaty void through ‘gradual encroachment’ and issued a monetary settlement to the Western Shoshone for the land. However, over 80% of Newe Sogobia is still not occupied by non-Native people. No Shoshone have ever accepted the money, and it continues to accrue interest in a trust account. Current federal legislation is attempting to force the money on the Western Shoshone people, so as to avoid future litigation over the proposed Yucca Mountain Repository, grazing rights, and the billions of dollars in gold and other minerals stolen from Western Shoshone lands without payment of any kind.
On March 21, 2002, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada tried to force a hearing on a bill, S. 958 that would have begun the process of destroying all Western Shoshone claims to ancestral lands. Without the consent of the Western Shoshone, land title to over 26,000,000 acres, described in the Treaty of Ruby Valley of 1863, would have been transferred to the US government at a purchase price of less than $1/acre! At the last moment, Reid postponed the hearing, when he listened to the Western Shoshone opposition. Thanks to all of you who have sent letters, emails, and phone calls to Reid’s office. But, keep in mind, the vote is postponed, not canceled.
The Western Shoshone National Council (WSNC) is a traditional governing structure implemented to represent the interests of all Western Shoshone. Although some Western Shoshone live within specific Reservations or Colonies near larger towns, which have Tribal Councils recognized by the federal government, the majority of the people do not. They did not have any form of representation prior to the WSNC.
The Nevada Test Site Within Newe Sogobia
In 1948, Western Shoshone lands were seized to create the Nevada Test Site, forcing over 100 families to abandon seasonal or permanent family camps. No compensation was ever offered. The Western Shoshone are the most bombed nation on Earth, with over 1,000 nuclear bombs detonated on their lands by the U.S. and Great Britain.
In 1987, the Western Shoshone National Council exercised their sovereignty and challenged U.S. jurisdiction by issuing WSNC Land Use Permits to participants of anti-nuclear gatherings at the Nevada Test Site. Since that time, no simple trespass actions onto the Test Site have been prosecuted, because the government wants to keep the issue of the Ruby Valley Treaty out of the courts.
The Western Shoshone Defense Project
The Western Shoshone Defense Project is an organization formed by the WSNC to support the Dann band, in Crescent Valley, NV. In 1973, sisters Mary and Carrie Dann were charged for trespassing by federal officials, for grazing their livestock on traditional lands. It seems more than a coincidence that the government had designs to site MX missiles on a randomly roving train in their region at the time. The family has struggled to survive against the onslaught of court battles, military-style invasions, and livestock confiscations for nearly thirty years.
In recent years, they have also battled new and expanded gold mines that drilled core samples nearly to the front door. In addition to gobbling up whole mountains, gold mining pollutes and diverts massive quantities of water, and leaves behind cyanide ponds that poison migratory birds and local ranch and wild animals.
The sisters were awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1993 in Sweden. In 2001, the Danns brought their case before the United Nations, with support from members of the European Parliament. They were joined by other Western Shoshone ranching groups, who are now threatened with livestock confiscation as well. The Western Shoshone point out that taking up ranching was part of the Ruby Valley Treaty, and since the Treaty recognizes their sovereign territory, they should not pay grazing fees to the federal government. Currently they have a case pending before the Human Rights Commission of the Organization of American States.
Annual gatherings are held each spring near the Dann ranch. In 2002, it is April 26-28. For more information contact the Western Shoshone Defense Project at 775-468-0230.
The Yucca Mt. Nuclear Waste Repository
On February 14th, 2002, Energy Secretary Abraham recommended Yucca Mt. as the site for storage of all US irradiated reactor fuel and other high-level radioactive waste. If passed, the federal government would withdraw (steal) another 260 square miles of Newe Sogobia. The WSNC is completely opposed to the Yucca Mountain project, and has passed a resolution making New Sogobia a Nuclear-Free Zone.
WSNC member Johnnie Bobb, from the Yomba Reservation, is planning the third annual Newene Sogobi Mava’a Mia: Western Shoshone Walk On the Sacred Land. Walkers and runners encircled the western boundary of the Test Site the last two years, including Yucca Mountain. They will run and pray on the east side in May, 2002.