Shivwitz

The Shivwitz or Shivwits are a group of Paiutes who live in Southern Utah. They were farmers living along the Santa Clara River and the Virgin River. Their reservation was formed in 1891 with only 100 acres. It did not receive water rights so they were forced to abandon farming. The reservation had a population of 194 in that year. There were 154 Shivwitz in 1906.

They were among the Paiute groups whose relationship with the federal government was terminated in the 1950s. Unlike other Piute groups the Shivwitz retained ownership of their lands after termination and leased then to ranchers instead of selling them outright.

The Shivwitz have since worked to regain federal recognition.

The Shivwitz regained federal recognition in 1980. Their current tribal chairman is Glen Rogers. In 2003 the Shivwitz received water rights for 4,000 acre-feet annually. The reservation is larger than it was originally, covering over 240 acres.

Sources

* http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/utah_today/nativeamericansinpostwarutah.html
* http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/nevada/index.htm
* http://www.fig.net/pub/fig2007/papers/ts_1e/ts01e_04_stempel_1398.pdf
* http://www.lofthouse.com/USA/Utah/washington/shivwit.html
* http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20031120/ai_n11431975
* http://www.scribd.com/doc/2818887/Proposed-Rule-Endangered-and-threatened-speciesCritical-habitat-designations8212-Shivwits-milkvetch-and-Holmgren-milkvetch