Nevada Tribes

The principle Indian tribes found in Nevada are Shoshone Indians, Paiute Indians, and Washoe Indian tribes.

There are 18 tribes, 4 bands and 4 councils which comprise the federally recognized Nevada Tribal Governments. The Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians includes four bands: the Battle Mountain Band, the Elko Band, the South Fork Band, and the Wells Band. The Washoe Tribe of Nevada/California includes four councils: the Carson Community Council, the Dresslerville Community Council, the Stewart Community Council, and the Woodfords Community Council.

Duck Valley
Yerington Paiute Tribe
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
Ely Shoshone Tribe
Duckwater Reservation
Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
Ft. McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
Confederated Tribes (Goshute Reservation)
Las Vegas Paiute Tribe
Lovelock Paiute Tribe
Moapa River Reservation
Reno/Sparks Indian Colony
Summit Lake Paiute Tribe
Winnemucca Colony
Walker River Paiute Tribe
Yomba Shoshone Tribe
Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians (comprised of the Battle Mountain Band, Elko Band, South Fork Band, and Wells Band)
Washoe Tribe of Nevada/California (comprised of the Carson Community Council, Dresslerville Community Council, Stewart Community Council, and Woodfords Community Council)

NEVADA INDIAN TRIBES(Federal List Last Updated 5/16)
FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES IN NEVADA

Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation (Nevada and Utah)
Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation
Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada
Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation (Nevada and Oregon)
Fort Mojave Indian Tribe (Arizona, California and Nevada)
Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians of the Las Vegas Indian Colony
Lovelock Paiute Tribe of the Lovelock Indian Colony
Moapa Band of Paiute Indians of the Moapa River Indian Reservation
Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of the Pyramid Lake Reservation
Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation
Summit Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada
Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada (Four constituent bands: Battle
Mountain Band; Elko Band; South Fork Band; Wells Band)
Walker River Paiute Tribe of the Walker River Reservation
Washoe Tribe (Nevada and California) (Carson Colony, Dresslerville Colony,
Woodfords Community, Stewart Community and Washoe Ranches)
Winnemucca Indian Colony of Nevada
Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony & Campbell Ranch
Yomba Shoshone Tribe of the Yomba Reservation

STATE RECOGNIZED TRIBES(Not recognized by the Federal Governemnt)

None

UNRECOGNIZED / PETITIONING TRIBES

Pahrump Band of Paiutes, Letter of Intent to Petition 11/9/1987.

FIRST CONTACT TO PRESENT
The Washoe tribe inhabited the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range that forms the border between present-day Nevada and California. They were highly skilled basket makers and used a dialect that was markedly different from that of the other Nevada Indians. The Paiute lived in northern and southern Nevada. Both groups depended primarily on hunting, gathering, and fishing for their food. Much of northeastern region was occupied by the Shoshone. They were part of a much larger group of Native Americans known as the Uto-Aztecan whose culture spread from present-day Washington State to the borders of Mexico. One of the most famous members of the Nevada Shoshone tribe was Sacajawea who served as guide and interpreter for Lewis and Clark on their expedition.
PRE-CONTACT NEVADA TRIBES
PRE-HISTORIC CULTURES IN NEVADA

900 BC – Patayan and Anasazi Indians inhabit Colorado River area.

1200 – Mojave Indians plant crops along river banks.

Native Americans inhabited the region that is now the state of Nevada thousands of years before Spanish explorers and fur traders began to explore the area. Archaeological discoveries of bones and ashes in the southern portion of the state reveal that Native peoples lived there more than 20,000 years ago. Cave drawings left by these ancient people can be found in the Valley of Fire State Park near present-day Las Vegas.  

RESOURCES
Genealogy:Sources of records on US Indian tribes Nevada Native American Boarding Schools