Assembly Joint Resolution 4 passed both houses of the Nevada Legislature. The resolution now urges Congress and the President to protect certain land containing swamp cedar trees in Spring Valley, Nevada by designating the site a national monument or expanding the Great Basin National Park to include the area.
Since ice last covered the land some 15,000 years ago, the Newe peoples to include the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, the Ely Shoshone, the Duckwater Shoshone and other Paiute peoples have occupied the Spring Valley region of eastern Nevada.
Like most valleys in Nevada, Spring Valley runs north to south and is situated between Wheeler Peak in the Great Basin National Park and North Schell Peak in the Schell Creek Range. The U.S. Geological Survey has identified more than 100 active springs in the valley.
Research published in 1938 identified 16 traditional villages in the basin. Not surprisingly, people lived around water, and members of associated villages and bands of Western Shoshone/Goshute would regularly visit from nearby Ruby Valley, Butte Valley, Steptoe Valley, Antelope Valley, and Deep Creek to collectively harvest antelope, rabbits, mud hens, and pine nuts, and to socialize and trade.
Beginning in 1859, from Salt Lake City to Austin, Nevada, the Pony Express and Overland Stage and what came with them decimated the Western Shoshone food and water supplies, their ancient way of life.
Hostilities between starving indigenous people in the Spring Valley region and Euroamericans simmered until sometime during 1859 or 1860 when Colonel Patrick E. Conner of the California Volunteers stationed at Fort Ruby in the nearby Ruby Valley ordered the unqualified killing of the Shoshone. According to several sources, U.S. Cavalry soldiers slaughtered more than 350 Shoshone in a single event that occurred near the swamp cedars.
The Goshute War began in 1863, and on May 16 of that year, U.S. Cavalry soldiers killed 23 Shoshone among the swamp cedars but were largely thwarted by the marshy conditions, according to historical accounts.
In 1897, it is believed that vigilantes massacred an untold number of native people in the Spring Valley near the cedars.
Many contemporary tribal members view the swamp cedars as their slaughtered relatives.
The resolution passed the Assembly with 13 lawmakers (all Republicans) voting against it. The measure passed the Senate by a unanimous vote.
To learn more about the importance of AJR4 for the preservation of Native American cultural sites not only in Spring Valley but across the nation, we spoke with Dr. Monte Sanford.
“Recognizing that this place is important to protect, and them (the State of Nevada) taking at least a couple of baby steps in terms of urging Congress to protect the place … I mean, it’s such a 180 degree swivel in terms of what has been the case over the last 150 years. I think that’s a really important piece of this is just how the times have changed, how we went from a really traumatic time and a lot of destruction to the state of Nevada all of a sudden saying ‘we’re, we’re going to recognize this and we’re going to do our part to protect it,'” said Dr. Sanford.
Music credits as reported to the Public Radio Exchange, in order of appearance
Song: On Reflection
Artist: Marconi Union
Album: Different Colors
Label: Just Music
Date: 2016
Duration: 2:17
Song: Time Lapse
Artist: Marconi Union
Album: Different Colors
Label: Just Music
Date: 2016
Duration: 3:44
Song: Flying in Crimson Skies
Artist: Marconi Union
Album: Different Colors
Label: Just Music
Date: 2016
Duration: 2:17
Song: Alone Together
Artist: Marconi Union
Album: Different Colors
Label: Just Music
Date: 2016
Duration: :53
