In 1951, the Southern Paiute Tribes filed a suit with the Indian Claims commission. The portion of this land making up the Southern Valley in and around Overton Nevada easily comprises some of the most expensive land in southern Nevada today. These bands Traditional lands covered an area which is now known as Southern Nevada, southern Utah and Northern and Western Arizona and Portions of California. The Moapa bands are a smaller group of 'bands' which is now mostly limited to regions of southern Nevada. Our Mission is to advance the Moapa Bands of Paiutes and preserve our homeland by building an independant and self-governing community that provides an opportunity for all peoples who have made a commitment to this mission.
Council members serve staggered three-year terms with two council people elected every year.
The reservation was created by President Grant's Executive Order in 1873 with a total of 2,000,000 acres. In 1981 over one hundred years later, congress restored 70,565 acres to the reservation. This area has been sacred to the Moapa for 1000 years and probably much longer. These were all owned by White ranches by the time the 20th century rolled around and were never returned to the Moapa Bands. There are 287 enrolled Tribal members.