UPDATE - Chimney Fire Burned Close, No Structure Loss

     SOUTH FORK BAND - The so-called "Chimney Fire" burned onto the South Fork Reservation, but no structures on the reservation were lost.  The fire is 65 percent contained.

BREAKING NEWS - Fire Reaches South Fork Reservation

     SOUTH FORK BAND - It is being reported that the so-called "Chimney Fire" has reached the South Fork reservation, prompting evacuations.

BIA Reject Tribes Request for Second Partial Payment

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The Bureau of Indian Affairs has posted an update on the Western Shoshone Claims website that begins "We have received several letters from Western Shoshone tribal leaders who on behalf of their membership have requested a second partial payment."

Wells Band Gets Enterprise Grant

     WELLS BAND - Vegas Inc. has the article The Notes: July 16, 2012 that reports "The Wells Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada will receive $52,800 to conduct a financial and market feasibility study and business plan for a Holiday Inn Express on tribal land."

Tribal Member Injuried in Bike Accident

     WELLS NV - The Elko Daily Free Press has the article Man Injured in Bike Crash that begins "A Wells man was flown to Elko with severe head trauma Thursday night after a bicycle collision."

Te-Moak Tribe to Receive Part of Cobell Settlement

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The Sacramento Bee has the story List of 44 tribes in a government $1B settlement that begins "Forty-four American Indian tribes are part of the $1 billion settlement with the U.S. government over claims of mismanaged trust funds."

Tribal Council Sets Election Date

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The Te-Moak Tribe has set an election date for the tribal-wide elections.

BIA Posts Western Shoshone Claims Update for June

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The Bureau of Indian Affairs has posted a June update on their Western Shoshone Claims website.
     According to the update, the BIA has completed the quality assurance review on all the applications received by December 31, 2010.

Te-Moak Tribe Part of Cobell Settlement

The Reno Gazette-Journal has the article Nevada tribe one of 41 splitting billion dollar federal settlement that begins "An Elko County-based tribe is one of 41 who are splitting a billion dollar settlement with the U.S. government

Rep. Amedei Introduces Bill To Add Land To Te-Moak Tribe

     On January 24, 2012, Representative Mark Amedei [NV-2] introduced H.R. 3815, The Elko Motocross and Tribal Conveyance Act.  A copy of the bill can be found here.

BIA Posts Progress Report, June Payment Looks Remote

     The Bureau of Indian Affairs has posted a progress report.  According to the report, the quality assurance review processed approximately 700 applications in the month of December with 6,500 applications remaining to be reviewed.  Calculating the numbers, completion of the QA review of applications would take more than 9 months.

BIA Mails Notices to Western Shoshone

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has begun the process of mailing individual Western Shoshone the notice that has been posted on the BIA Western Shoshone Claims website.  In the notice, the BIA informs individual Western Shoshone that the target date of December 31, 2011 for final per capita payment has been moved to a later date.  The new target date is June 5, 2012.

Te-Moak Tribe Sues Interior Over South Fork Band Dispute

According to the Reno Federal Court, the Te-Moak Tribe filed suit against the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs over South Fork Band recall dispute.  The Te-Moak Tribe sued the Department because of a court ruling that said the tribe could be sued in court.

BIA Delays Western Shoshone Distribution Until 2012

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Western Shoshone Claims website has posted a new update that begins "The target date for the final per capita payment for the Western Shoshone Judgment Fund has been changed from December 31, 2011 to June 5, 2012."

Barrick's Cortez Hills Operations to Begin

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - Reuters has the article Barrick Gold's Nevada mine gets nod for full operations that begins "Barrick G0old Corp said U.S. land regulators approved the environmental assessment report for its low-cost Cortez Hills mine in Nevada, removing operational restrictions."

Re-introduction of Tribal Conveyance Bill

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - Yesterday, Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign introduced S. 617 (bill summary here), the Elko Motocross and Tribal Conveyance Act, a bill that would convey certain Federal land to Elko County, Nevada, and to take land into trust for the Te-moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada.

Tribal Council Meeting Tonight

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The Te-Moak Tribal Council has scheduled a special meeting tonight at 5:00 pm to discuss the South Fork Band special election.

Comments Vary On Claims

     TE-MOAK TRIBE - The comments section of the Elko Daily Free Press article Shoshone get claims money varies from "Dont mean to a "B", but now our jail will fill up and our police blotter wont be boring!! hahaha!!" to "WE native deserve this money."
     Also, an editorial titled Land Belongs to Western Shoshone is also receiving comments.

Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Begins

     TEMOAK TRIBE - After seven years from the passage of the Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act of 2004 Public Law 108-270, the US Treasury has begun distributing claim funds to eligible Western Shoshones who are 65 years of age or older and Western Shoshone who submitted their applications before October 5, 2007.

BIA Misses Notification Step in Claims Procedure

     TEMOAK TRIBE - It is being reported that the Bureau of Indian Affairs has missed a notification step in the Western Shoshone claims procedure.