Similarities of Nevada Tribes

The following information is provided to familiarize teachers with some general background on Nevada Indians. The topics presented are issues that have affected the four Nevada tribes and continue to make an impact on them.

Tribal Councils:

Every tribe in Nevada has a governing body. This government is separate from the state or county. It is sovereign. Sovereign means having, "independent power and authority within a governmental system."
Many Native American tribes are considered sovereign nations or groups. Most of them have their own form of government.
Tribal governments in Nevada usually consist of the following offices:

Tribal Chairperson

Vice-Chairperson

Secretary/Treasurer

Tribal Council Representatives (Representatives from each colony and/or reservation)

Enterprises:

Enterprises are the business or economic development projects that Nevada tribes are involved in to provide income. Some sources of economic development among Nevada tribes today are:

Tribal Smokeshops
Ranches/Feed Lots
Fisheries
Range Management
Firefighting
Educational Curriculm Projects
Arts and Crafts
Stores
Recreational Activities
Fish and Game
Camping
Food Services
Cattle/Horse Breeding

Privately owned businesses such as stores, motels, recreation centers, restaurants and building leases.

Education:

A number of educational programs are available for tribes on the various colonies and reservations. Some of these programs, such as Johnson O'Malley and the Title V Indian Education Program, provide supplemental educational services such as academic tutoring, cultural enrichment and parent liaision services to Nevada Indian students.
Another educational service a number of tribes contract for, through the Bureau of Indian of Affairs, is higher education. Grants and scholarships for college or vocational training are provided for tribal members to attend accredited institutions of higher learning. Limited funding is available, however; students must meet academic criteria in order to qualify for monies.

Housing:

Most of the housing on reservations and colonies is built through the Housing and Urban Development Program (H.U.D.). This program enables tribal members to finance or rent homes at an affordable cost.

Bureau of Indian Affairs:

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (B.I.A.) is part of the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. It was formed in the early 1800s to prepare Indian people for U.S. citizenship and to protect them in treaty agreements signed by the U.S. Government.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has programs that oversee contracts with the various tribes. Some of these services include education, social services, forestry and law enforcement.

Indian Health Service:

Indian Health Service, a branch of the Public Health Service, provides health services to eligible Native Nevadans and other Native Americans in the state. Health clinics are located on various reservations in Nevada. Services include basic medical, dental, mental health, and optometric programs.