Te-Moak History
In 1863, the United States entered into the Treaty of Ruby Valley with the Western Shoshone Nation. This Treaty recognized the land rights of the Western Shoshone people to their ancestral lands. This was a treaty of “peace and friendship” which defined the boundaries of Newe (Indian ) Country. The aboriginal territory of the Western Shoshone encompassed 24 million acres of Southeastern California, Eastern Nevada, and Western Utah. The treaty described the Shoshone country and said,” it is understood that the boundaries of the country claimed and occupied by said bands are defined. ”The Western Shoshone agreed to permit certain uses of their lands for the establishment of military posts, station houses, telegraph and overland stage lines, railroads, and for mining, ranches, and mills. “In keeping with the traditional principles of the people, permitted limited use of their territory but did not cede their lands.
The Elko Indian Colony was established by Executive Order 2824 on March 23, 1918, which set 160 acres of their use. Another 32.80 acres was purchased by warranty deed on April 22, 1931; approved on July 10, 1931, under the Authority Act of January 31, 1931 (Public Law 581, 71st Congress). The total acreage is 192.80. Located in Northeastern Nevada, the colony is situated in Elko, County with the County Seat being the town of Elko, with the current population of 18,297 which has grown to surround the Elko Indian Colony. Inter-state Highway 80 runs through the Colony and is a major artery from the eastern to the western states. According to the Enrollment Office for Te-Moak the total tribally enrolled is at 2,518, since Elko was the largest town in northeastern Nevada, many Shoshone from nearby areas came to find employment. Even before the government officially established the colony, many people from the Carlin Farms, Ruby Valley, Wells, South Fork, Halleck, Austin, Battle Mountain, Reese River, Beowawe, and Clover Valley came to the railroad town. Many of these people settled here when the colony was founded; many more joined later.
The Bands; which is comprised of South Fork, Wells, Battle Mountain and Elko are governed by a seven member Band Council with officers being a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, appointed Secretary and Treasurer. The terms of office for the Council is three years. These seven member Councils are under the umbrella of the Te-Moak Tribal Council. The Te-Moak Tribal Council consists of representatives of each band, Elko has four representatives, while Wells has one, South Fork has two and Battle Mountain has two. The Councils from each band governs their areas, the Te-Moak Tribal Council contracts with the Federal, State and local Governments they plan and manage all economic affairs and enterprises of the Tribe, they enact all ordinances and resolutions, the powers of the Tribe is to protect, the health, peace, morals, education, safety and welfare of the Tribe, its members and all other persons within its jurisdiction, and governs the conduct of Tribal members.
The Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada is organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934 as amended, and operates in accordance with the Te-Moak Tribal Constitution. Under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA), the Te-Moak Housing Authority (TMHA has termed the Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE). The Tribal Council of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone adopted Resolution No. 13-TM-23 dissolving itself as the TDHE on July 18, 2013, and established a Tribally Designated Housing Entity Board of Commissioners effective on August 15, 2013 to administer and manage all operations of the Te-Moak Housing Authority pertaining to the needs of the members of the Tribe for decent, safe, and sanitary housing; and is recognized by the Te-Moak Housing Authority by amended Resolution 14-TMHA-19.
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The Tribally Designated Housing Entity Board of Commissioners is composed of (6) members, they consist of:
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Lynette Piffero, Chairwoman
Raymond Gonzales Sr., Vice Chairman
Marlene Cortez, Member
Donna Hill, Member
Feland Jim, Member
Dallas Smales, Member
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While being mindful of the mission statement, and no matter how disparate, HUD and Congress did not recognize that housing is more than just four walls and a roof, HUD only allowed homes to be built responsible and efficient, not particularly attractive or stylish but generally comfortable and workmanlike. By large, the units comprising the asset base of the Te-Moak Housing Authority are well maintained but the cost to cover long-term preventive maintenance has never been sufficient.
The Te-Moak Housing Authority oversees the numbers in the Current Assisted Stock in the four areas, Policies and Interventions are enforced upon those in the low rental units and Mutual Help units.
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Over the past 50 years the Te-Moak Housing Authority has built 318 homes with;
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29 units in the Battle Mountain Band new subdivision, (13 Low Rental and 16 Mutual Help).
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Wells Indian Colony has a total of 25, (14 Low Rent and 11 Mutual Help).
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South Fork Sub-division and Scattered Sites has 36, (33 Mutual Help and 3 Low Rental).
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and Elko Indian Colony has 228, (39 Rental and 190 Mutual Help).
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In 1974 the units consisted of 19 home in the 16-1’s “Sweat Equity”.
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In 1977 the 16-2 were built Lower colony and Circle Way
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1978 the 16-3 and 16-4: These are the two story on Buckskin and in South Fork Scattered sites. The Elder Complex are the 16-4, Low Rent units.
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1980 16-5 and 16-6: Elko; down Indian View Heights and partially down Buckskin Dr., South Fork Subdivision and scattered sites, Wells, and Battle Mountain.
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1985 16-8: Down Sagebrush Drive and Buckskin Drive.
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1986 16-9: Eagle Drive, Arrow Lane and Heritage Way.
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1997 the 16-11’s: Are on Wongobi Street and Bohobi Street.
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In 2016-2017, four more homes are scheduled to be built by the Te-Moak Housing Authority. All four units will be purchased using the 1st Global account and they will be considered the Enterprise Rental Units for the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone tribal members, the qualifications identified in the Policy will allow for higher income as income is the decisive factor for applicants as tenants must have verifications of employment six (6) months out of the year. All new tenants will be selected from the waiting list and the Board of Commissioners will do the selection.
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