Historical Developments and Demographic Patterns of the Goshute Indians of Ibapah, Utah

There is a lack of written information and literature available on the group of Indians living in the Deep Creek area, known as Goshutes (Gosiute). This group of people is a distinct community with definite identity, problems, needs, and objectives. They are located in Western Utah and Eastern Nevada in Tooele and Juab Counties in Utah and white Pin County in Nevada. The reservation land area includes 111,000 acres. The following report has been prepared as a study to aid those interested in historical or demographic information of these people and for agencies or individuals intending to become involved in training or other aspects of developmental programs with them. The area is isolated from civic centers, medical facilities, churches, cultural events, supplies, repair services, and educational facilities by distance , the absence of transportation services, unimproved roads, and very limited communications. Major supply centers are Ely, Nevada, 95 miles to the southwest; Wendover, Utah and/ or Nevada, 70 miles to the north; and Delta, Utah, 120 miles to the east. The principle center for the Deep Creek area, including the reservation, is at Ibapah approximately 12 miles from the upper reservation and four miles from Tribal Headquarters. At Ibapah are located the post office , two general stores with gasoline and diesel fuels, an elementary school , and a mobile telephone which is the only one within 40 miles. The principle Indian settlements are at Eight-Mile Ranch, Goshute on the Upper Reservation which used to be the principle Tribal Center, and the area known at present as Tribal Headquarters or the Lower Reservation. A 11 of the supply and service centers at Ibapah are owned and operated by non-Indians. Although the Goshute tribal rolls show 350 qualified members, the population of Indians on the reservation is usually between 70 and 100. The non-Indian population of the area fluctuates between 30 and 50. A high percentage of the people, both Indian and non-Indian, are under the age of 18 or over the age of 46. There is a lack of people in the 19 to 45 age group. Although there was no apparent opposition in the last Tribal Council election there is still a small group of Goshute Tribal members who isolate themselves ideologically from the rest of the tribe and cause agitation, primarily by influencing tribal members who are not living on the reservation. There is quite an active transition or migration of Goshutes in and out of the area as employment in other areas ceases and as opportunities for employment occur. Family names are difficult to trace because sometime in the Goshute history when the. Indians were given only first names they assumed the surname of the non-Indian families for whom they were working, such as Baker , Pete., and Steele. A 1 though the people of the area suggest that every effort has been made to unite the Indian and non-Indian, and these efforts seem to be very sincere, various incidents have indicated that all of the individuals of the area have not been able to commit themselves one hundred percent to this effort. An example of this is the Deep Creek annual reunion which does not allow Indians to attend the dance. By the same token the doctors who conduct the public health clinic on the reservation each month refuse to treat non-Indians of the area. Efforts are being made by both groups to change these situations. Agencies or individuals who use this report should do so only as a guide to better acquaint themselves with the Deep Creek area and its inhabitants .

Topic: Archaeology and Natural History
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences