Goshute
The Goshute, also known as "Gosiute" or "Newe," are an Indigenous nation primarily located in the regions of Deep Creek, Utah, and Skull Valley, Utah. They are a mixed heritage group, rooted in both Shoshone and Ute traditions, and historically roamed the arid landscape between Ruby Valley, Nevada, and the Utah Wasatch Mountain Range. With a population of approximately 400 individuals in 2024, the Goshute have faced significant challenges throughout history, particularly following the arrival of European settlers and the expansion of mining and agricultural activities in their territories.
In the 1860s, conflicts with settlers and the Union Army led to a treaty that sought to regulate interactions between the Goshute and incoming settlers, promising compensation to the tribe. Despite this, the Goshute have remained resilient, focusing on cultural preservation and economic development within their reservations, such as managing natural resources and engaging in economic ventures like leasing land for testing facilities. Their cultural practices include traditional dances and gathering activities, reflecting their connection to their environment. As they navigate contemporary challenges, both the Skull Valley Band and the Confederated Tribes of Goshute continue to uphold their heritage and seek opportunities for sustainable development.
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Goshute
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Great Basin
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Shoshone
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Near Deep Creek, the Great Salt Lake, and Skull Valley, Utah
- POPULATION SIZE: 400 (2024, Confederated Tribes of the Goshutes, Utah Division of Indian Affairs); 127 (2024, Skull Valley Band of Goshute - Utah Division of Indian Affairs)
Historically, the Goshute (or “Gosiute” or "Newe") was a mixed Indigenous nation with heritage from both the Shoshone and Ute. Though they spoke Shoshone and were a splinter group of that nation, the Goshute often intermarried with Utes. The Goshute roamed the vast area between Ruby Valley, Nevada, and the Utah Wasatch Mountain Range. Their date of arrival in the area has yet to be established.
Because they resided in a barren, desert region of Utah and Nevada, it is believed that the early Mormon settlers of Utah were the first Whites to visit the Goshute. The ensuing years, however, witnessed many gold miners passing through Goshute territory on the overland route to California. During the 1860s, the Pony Express route also crossed Goshute lands, and overland mail stations were erected on that nation’s territory. Farmers and ranchers moved into the region and claimed the few resources as their own. The Goshute retaliated with raids on the stations and stagecoaches but were attacked by the Union Army's California Volunteers, killing many members of the nation. Survivors were forced to sign a treaty agreeing to end all hostilities, allow stagecoaches to travel through the area, and allow telegraph lines and military posts to be built without objection. The federal government promised to pay the tribe $1,000 annually as compensation. The treaty was signed in October 1863, ratified the following year, and announced by President Lincoln in early 1865.
After the White Pine War of 1875, many Nevada Goshutes relocated permanently to Deep Creek, Utah.
The Goshute, or “desert people,” had only a loose Indigenous association and two isolated settlements. An 1866 Indigenous American agent for the government, following the signing of the treaty, described them as “peaceable and loyal.” In the rare instances when they fought, it was usually to defend themselves. This peaceful gathering of Indigenous people were more concerned with survival than with war. The Goshute often roamed in small groups, scouring the desert for meager amounts of food. Men hunted small game, primarily jackrabbits, while women gathered edible plants and fruit. Pine nuts proved to be a favorite food source, and the yearly expedition to gather them was a major event. For cultural activities, the Goshute participated in the Bear Dance and the Round Dance.
Early in the twentieth century, part of the Indigenous nation was located on the Skull Valley Reservation in Juab and Tooele counties in Utah, while the other part moved to the Deep Creek Reservation in White Pine County, Nevada. President William Howard Taft allocated the Skull Valley region in 1912 by executive order; two years later, another such order created the Deep Creek Reservation. The nation adopted and approved its constitution in November 1940. By the 1990s, less than half of the nation's members resided on the reservations since their remote locations provided only low-paying, unstable employment opportunities.
In the mid-2020s, the two bands of Goshute Indigenous Americans continued to exist on these reservations, although they faced continued challenges. The Skull Valley Band of Goshute was centered on the Skull Valley Indian Reservation in Tooele County, Utah, although not all members lived on the reservation. They pursued alternative economic activities, such as leasing a rocket motor testing facility. The Confederated Tribes of Goshute was the second band centered on the Deep Creek Reservation in White Pine County, Nevada, and Juab and Tooele counties in Utah. They managed a herd of elk; however, like the other band of Goshutes, they faced challenges from a lack of natural resources and economic opportunities in the areas of their reservations. Both bands of Goshutes worked to preserve their culture and traditions.
Bibliography
Allen, James B., and Ted J. Warner. "The Gosiute Indians in Pioneer Utah." Utah Historical Quarterly, vol. 39, no. 2, spring 1971.
CTGR – Goshute Indian Tribe, ctgr.us/home. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
"Confederated Tribes of the Goshutes." Utah Division of Indian Affairs, indian.utah.gov/confederated-tribes-of-the-goshutes. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
"Goshute." Utah American Indian Digital Archive, utahindians.org/archives/goshute.html. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
The Indians and Utah. Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1978.
Klein, Barry T. Reference Encyclopedia of the American Indian. 21st ed., Todd, 2016.
"Skull Valley Band of Goshute." Utah Division of Indian Affairs, indian.utah.gov/skull-valley-band-of-goshute. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
Smoak, Gregory E. "The Great Basin." The Oxford Handbook of American Indian History. Oxford UP, 2016, p. 377.