Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada

The tribe organized under the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act. Western Shoshone elected a traditional council, led by Chief Muchach Temoak and his descendants, to create the new governments; however, the United States refused to recognize the traditional council and created the Te-Moaks Bands Council. Traditionalists did not feel adequately represented by this council and created the United Western Shoshone Legal Defense and Education Association, now known as the Sacred Lands Association in 1974. The traditionalists argued before the Indian Claims Commission (ICC) that the Te-Moak Bands Council did not speak for them and the tribe never gave up their title to their traditional lands. Their claims and appeal were rejected in 1979, when the ICC ruled that the Western Shoshone lost title to their lands in the Treaty of Ruby Valley in 1863. In 1980 the courts ruled that the lands were not ceded in 1863 but were lost on 6 December 1979. Despite appeals by the tribe, the US Supreme Court rules in 1985 that $26 million was paid to the tribe in 1979 for of land. The tribe is still fighting to reclaim their traditional lands today. The tribe's corporate charter was approved in 1938 and their current constitution was amended in 1982. ==Today==

The Te-Moak Tribe Council is headquartered in Elko, Nevada. The tribe is composed of four constituent bands. Their constitution allows for an unlimited number of reservations and Indian colonies to join the tribe. Battle Mountain Band This band governs the Battle Mountain reservation, at , in Battle Mountain, Nevada. Traditionally, they are the Tonomudza/Tonammutsa (Donammuzi) band of Western Shoshone. Their separate parcels of land total . Current reservation population is 165 and total tribal enrollment is 516. Their current band council includes: :*Lydia Johnson, Chairman :*Florine Maine, Vice Chair :*Delbert Holley :*Joseph Holley :*Emerson Winap :*Vacant Seat Elko Band The Elko Indian Colony, at , was established in 1918. South Fork Band The South Fork and Odgers Ranch Indian Reservation, at , was established in Lee, Nevada in 1941 The Band governs of land. 59 members live on the reservation and their total band enrollment is 176. Their current band council is as follows: :*Tyler Reynolds, Chairman :*Alice Tybo, Vice Chairman :*Brandon Reynolds :*Dallas Smales :*Gilbert Temoke :*Vacant Wells Band The Wells Indian Colony, at , was established in 1980 and is large. Traditionally, they are the Kuiyudika band of Western Shoshone, after a desert plant used for food; within this group were at least two other smaller groups, the Doyogadzu Newenee (end-of-the-mountain people) and the Waiha-Muta Newenee (fire-burning-on ridge people). Clover Valley served as a rendezvous spot among these small Newe bands. Their headquarters is in Wells, Nevada. 39 members live on the reservation, and total band enrollment is 177. Their current band council is as follows: :*Casey Franco, Chairman :*Steve Brady, Vice-Chairman :*Harvey Healy :*Steve Johnny ==Notable Te-Moak Shoshone==

• Ned Blackhawk, a Te-Moak historian and professor at Yale University ==Notes==