The Paiute Tribe of Utah held its annual Restoration Gathering and Powwow on Saturday.

The event started in 1980. That's when the tribe was restored to recognition after being terminated in 1954.

“It was hard on us,” Chairwoman Lora Tom told The Salt Lake Tribune. “To be restored took a lot of testimony before Congress and a lot of help from Sen. [Orrin] Hatch.”

After termination, nearly one-half of the tribal population died and about 15,000 acres of tribal lands were lost. Since restoration, the tribe has seen a grown in membership and one of its bands has created a highly successful business enterprise with millions of dollars in government contracts.

The tribe consists of five bands, four of whom were terminated.

Get the Story:
Paiutes celebrate restoration (The Salt Lake Tribune 6/16)