Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation

The Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation, also known as the Benton Paiute Tribe, is a federally recognized Great Basin tribe in Mono County, California.[2][3]

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

Reservation
Location of Benton Paiute Reservation

The Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe has a federal reservation in Mono County, ten miles (16 km) from the Nevada border called the Benton Paiute Reservation (37°47′22″N 118°31′19″W) in Benton, 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 nearby Benton, California.[4] The nearest incorporated city is Bishop, which lies about 40 miles (64 km) to the south. About the same distance to the west is Mammoth Lakes, although there is no direct road leading there.

Government

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

The tribe identifies as being Owens Valley Paiute. Tribal enrollment is open to people with one-quarter Paiute blood 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 the US Department of Energy for a study of the feasibility of geothermal energy development on tribal lands.[8]

History

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

Name

The name Utuʼutuwi·tu, a subgroup of Owens Valley Paiute (or Eastern Mono), was Anglicized to Utu Utu Gwaiti, or Gwaitu.[9]

Education

The reservation is served by the Eastern Sierra Unified School District.

Citations
  1. Pritkzer, 227
  2. California Indians and Their Reservations. Archived 2009-02-05 at the Wayback Machine San Diego State University Library and Information Access. 2009 (retrieved 5 May 2010)
  3. Rusco and Rusco, 566
  4. "Tribal history". Benton Paiute Reservation. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  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
  • Liljeblad, Sven and Fowler, Catherine S. "Owens Valley Paiute." Handbook of North American Indians: Great Basin, Volume 11. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1986. ISBN 978-0-16-004581-3.
  • Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.
  • Rusco, Elmer R. and Mary K. Rusco. "Tribal Politics." Handbook of North American Indians: Great Basin, Volume 11. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1986. ISBN 978-0-16-004581-3.
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