Treaty of Ruby Valley 1863

The Treaty of Ruby Valley was a Peace Treaty signed in 1863, giving certain rights to the United States in the Nevada Territory. The treaty was signed by Numaga (Fish Man), a minor Paiute head man, in August 1863. As late as December 1992, Western Shoshone were still disputing the terms of this treaty with President-Elect Clinton. The United States Congress had attempted to settle the agreement in 1979, appropriating $26 million to purchase title to 24 million acres (97,000 km²) of tribal lands. By 1992, interest on that appropriation had increased it to $75 million dollars, and it continues to grow.

Chiefs Frank Temoke and Frank Brady adamantly refused the government payoff at Battle Mountain, Nevada on December 11 1992. Temoke was sure that the Shoshone would lose their claim to the lands if they accepted the funds. He said, "I did not sign any agreement for money. The actions of the federal government are unconstitutional, immoral, genocide and against international law." Brady urged his people to refuse the settlement also, saying, "The people need land, not money." They both faced immense pressure from their own people to sell out because many of the Shoshone wanted the money. Brady said, "Some say we've lost the land already and that may be so, but we still have a fighting chance if we don't take the government payment."

Rulings and court actions in recent history

The United States Federal Government passed the Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act of 2004, which authorized payment of $145 million for the transfer of 25 million acres (101,000 km²) to the United States. Seven of the nine tribal councils within the Western Shoshone Nation passed resolutions opposing the legislation. [ [http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/2954 NewStandardNews.net article] ]

On March 10, 2006 the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination stated "credible information alleging that the Western Shoshone indigenous people are being denied their traditional rights to land".Fact|date=November 2007

On January 17, 2006, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Western Shoshone National Council against the United States of America that sought to quiet title to lands whose boundaries were defined by the Treaty of Ruby Valley. See 415 F. Supp. 2d 1201.

References

* Ontko, Gale 1997. "Thunder Over the Ochoco, Lightning Strikes Vol. III". Maverick Publications, Inc. Bend, Oregon.
* The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, Associated Press Release, December 14 1992

External links

* [http://outbacknv.us/howh/FtRuby.html History and photos of Fort Ruby]
* [http://www.webpanda.com/white_pine_county/historical_society/ft_ruby.htm Detailed history and photos of Fort Ruby]
* [http://www.telegraph-history.org/transcontinental-telegraph/index.html History of the Transcontinental Telegraph]
* [http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/shoshone/ruby_valley.html Treaty of Ruby Valley]
* [http://www.exploringnevada.com/nevada-pictures-photographs/northern-ruby-valley-secret-valley-photographs/ Photographs of the Northern Ruby Valley]