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Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation

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Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe
Total population
84 (1991)[1]
Regions with significant populations
United States(California)
Languages
English
Religion
traditional tribal religion,Christianity,Sun Dance,Native American Church[1]
Related ethnic groups
Western Mono

TheUtu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation,also known as theBenton Paiute Tribe,is afederally recognizedGreat Basin tribeinMono County, California.[2][3]

Reservation[edit]

Location of Benton Paiute Reservation

TheUtu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribehas a federal reservation inMono County,ten miles (16 km) from theNevadaborder called theBenton Paiute Reservation(37°47′22″N118°31′19″W/ 37.78944°N 118.52194°W/37.78944; -118.52194) inBenton, California.The reservation is 400 acres (1.6 km2) large that is held in Trustee status and another 67 acres held in fee simple status. Approximately 50 tribal members on the reservation.[2]The reservation was established on July 22, 1915.[1]The tribe owns and operates the Benton Crossing Cafe in nearbyBenton, California.[4]The nearest incorporated city isBishop,which lies about 40 miles (64 km) to the south. About the same distance to the west isMammoth Lakes,although there is no direct road leading there.

Government[edit]

The tribe's headquarters is located inBenton, California.[5]The tribe is governed by a democratically elected, five-person tribal council.[1]

The tribe identifies as beingOwens Valley Paiute.Tribal enrollment is open to people with one-quarter Paiuteblood quantum,either from the Benton area or descended from original enrollees. Other Owens Valley Paiute can be adopted into the tribe, as approved by a five-person enrollment committee.[6]

The current tribal administration is as follows:

  • Chairwoman: Tina Braithwaite
  • Vice-Chairman: Shane Saulque
  • Secretary/Treasurer: Vacant
  • Council Person: Michelle Saulque
  • Council Member: Cecil Rambeau
  • Chief Arbitrator: Joseph Saulque[7]

At the beginning of 2010, the tribe was awarded a $200,000 grant from theUS Department of Energyfor a study of the feasibility ofgeothermal energydevelopment on tribal lands.[8]

History[edit]

The tribe unanimously voted on their constitution on November 22, 1975 and ratified it on January 20, 1976.[3]

Name[edit]

The nameUtuʼutuwi·tu,a subgroup of Owens Valley Paiute (or Eastern Mono), wasAnglicizedto Utu Utu Gwaiti, or Gwaitu.[9]

Education[edit]

The reservation is served by theEastern Sierra Unified School District.

Citations[edit]

  1. ^abcdPritkzer, 227
  2. ^abCalifornia Indians and Their Reservations.Archived2009-02-05 at theWayback MachineSan Diego State University Library and Information Access.2009 (retrieved 5 May 2010)
  3. ^abRusco and Rusco, 566
  4. ^"Tribal history".Benton Paiute Reservation.Retrieved26 June2020.
  5. ^"Tribal Governments by Tribe."National Congress of American Indians.(retrieved 5 May 2010)
  6. ^"Enrollment Ordiance."Utu Utu Gawitu Paiute Tribe.(retrieved 5 May 2010)
  7. ^"Tribal Council."Utu Utu Gawitu Paiute Tribe.(retrieved 5 May 2010)
  8. ^"Geothermal development possible for Benton area?"The Inyo Register.2 March 2010 (retrieved 5 May 2010)
  9. ^Liljeblad and Fowler, 433

General and cited references[edit]

  • Liljeblad, Sven and Fowler, Catherine S. "Owens Valley Paiute."Handbook of North American Indians: Great Basin, Volume 11.Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1986.ISBN978-0-16-004581-3.
  • Pritzker, Barry M.A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples.Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.ISBN978-0-19-513877-1.
  • Rusco, Elmer R. and Mary K. Rusco. "Tribal Politics."Handbook of North American Indians: Great Basin, Volume 11.Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1986.ISBN978-0-16-004581-3.

External links[edit]

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