Yerington Monday: Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony & Campbell Ranch

Yerington Monday: Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony & Campbell Ranch

Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony was some what unique in that it was in the Yerington city limits.  At the time we “old-timers” were going to school, the children of the Yerington Colony attended with us as they did not have a reservation school at that time like so many other Paiute tribes in Nevada.  I personally am grateful for that, because we got to know another race.  I wish I could say I was exposed to the Paiute customs more, but the truth was they integrated very well into white society working on the farms and the hospital and many other areas of our small town and attending our schools and social activities.  I do not remember them having “pow-wows”, but I do remember my mother buying pine nuts from them every year and us roasting them in the over.  They were a special treat. I plan to do more posts on the Yerington Paiute Tribe, but I could use some help.  Any information or pictures on our tribe would be helpful.  I will be doing one Yerington Monday on Wovoka alone as he is the most famous Yerington Paiute.

The Paiutes call themselves Numu, meaning "People." Individual bands within the tribe were usually named after the principal food they ate. The Yerington Paiute band name was Poo-zi Ticutta, meaning 'bulb eaters.'

Paiute means "true Ute" or "water Ute," reflecting the group's relationship to the Ute Indians of Utah.

Yerington Colony, Campbell Ranch, Northern Paiute. Paiute peoples were also historically called Snakes and Bannocks by whites and were even confused with Northern Shoshone who shared many cultural and linguistic traits, as well as overlapping traditional territories.

The Yerington Paiute tribe had 659 enrolled members in 1992.

Linda Howard.  The Yerington Paiute Tribe of Nevada's tribal headquarters is located in Yerington, Nevada. The tribe is governed by a tribal council. The most recent administration included the following:

• Tribal Chairperson: Linda Howard
• Vice Chairperson: LaVerne Roberts
• Secretary of Record: Shelley Pugh
• Council Member: Delmar Stevens
• Council Member: Elwood Emm
• Council Member: Eleanor Smith
• Council Member: Glen Roberts Jr.
• Council Member: Eleanor Smith.

Michael Keats is a member of the Yerington Paiute Tribe and lives on the tribal reservation since 1986. He was born and raised on the Walker River Paiute Reservation in Schurz, NV. His parents are the late Art Keats and Verna Andrews of Schurz. While growing up Michael stayed and lived with his grandparents, Ernie and Sally Keats. While in Schurz he was taught the traditional ways of making regalia and became an outstanding fancy dancer. He credits his teachings to Wesley Jim and Irwin Miller. He attended high school at Mineral County High School, graduated and continued his education at Haskell Indian College in Kansas. He met Lois while attending college and then moved to Mississippi. They have two beautiful girls, Shannon and Karla and seven grandchildren. It was here that he learned the trade of Masonry. He’s a true artist with brick, block and stone and some of his work can be seen in Reno, Carson City, Fallon, Lake Tahoe and even as far as Hawaii. After leaving Mississippi, he returned home and met Debra and their marriage gave them four children, Michelle, Michael Jr, Kennie and Kathie. Kennie passed away in 2008 at the age of 21.

During his time in Yerington, he became involved with his four kids as they started dancing at powwows. He took time to make his son’s regalia and never once used a sewing machine. Every item was hand-stitched! He did this for many years and for as long as his children wanted to be in the circle. He thanks his brother David for taking the time to make the girls regalia. The opportunity came when he was asked to serve as Arena Director at the annual Spirit of Wovoka Days Powwow in Yerington. From there, he was asked to serve as AD in Davis, CA, Pyramid Lake, Fallon, Schurz, Stewart, Reno, and many other locations.

Michael enjoys hunting, fishing and traveling to watch his three children and nine (9) grandchildren play sports. Whether it’s softball, baseball, basketball, cross country, swimming at the lake or coaching everyone, he has given a lot of expert advice and know-how and is always willing to share a story or two with his family and friends.

He is honored to be the Arena Director for 2015 at the SIR Powwow and looks forward to a great weekend with everyone. Good luck to all the dancers!!

Wovoka

Today, The Yerington Paiutes operate their own education program, environmental program (overseeing air and water quality and wetlands), police force, USDA Commodities program, and social services, including a health clinic.

The Silver State Academy on the Yerington Paiute Reservation in Nevada.

Yerington Paiute tribal health clinic which includes a full-service medical clinic, a dental clinic and lab, and an optometry clinic. The entire facility was built using wood frame and plaster construction methods, and the finished project is a handsome focal point for the tribal community.

Economic development enterprises include the Arrowhead Market, a fuel and convenience store in Yerington, and Campbell Ranch, which grows alfalfa.