Western Shoshone refuse to give up on treaty

Tuesday, January 9, 2007  

Members and leaders of the Western Shoshone Nation continue to fight for a treaty that may not come with any rights.

The tribe signed the Treaty of Ruby Valley in 1863. It promised 26 million acres in Nevada, California, Utah and Idaho.

But the federal government has repeatedly said the treaty didn't really guarantee the Shoshone any land. Nevertheless, the Indian Claims Commission awarded the tribe $26 million for the loss of millions of acres.

The fund grew to $145 million before Congress passed a law that required its distribution. Some activists refuse to accept their share, saying their land isn't for sale.

Beyond land, the tribe is fighting to keep the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump of its ancestral land. Tribal members also oppose the massive "Divine Strake" military blast planned for Nevada.

Get the Story:
Tribe keeps fighting for treaty rights (AP 1/8)

Relevant Links:
Western Shoshone Defense Project - http://www.wsdp.org
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/cerd.htm

Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act:
Bill Report | H.R.884 | S.618

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