The Bridgeport Indian Colony of California (Northern Paiute: A'waggu Dükadü, lit. those who eat suckers),[1] formerly known as the "Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony of California", is a federally recognized tribe of Northern Paiute Indians in Mono County, California, United States.[2]
Awani descendants are also enrolled in the Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony.[3]
Reservation
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The Bridgeport Indian Colony has a federal reservation in Mono County, close to the Nevada border, in the unincorporated community of Bridgeport, California. The reservation is 72 acres (290,000 m2) large. Approximately fifty-five (55) Tribal Members live on the Colony, currently one hundred and five Tribal members (105) enrolled, and a registered population of 120 today. The reservation community consists of descendants from Miwok, Mono, Paiute, Shoshone, and the Washoe tribes. The reservation site is near the southeast corner of Bridgeport Reservoir.
Language
editThe Bridgeport traditionally spoke the Northern Paiute language, which is part of the Western Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Their dialect is sometimes called "Southern Nevada Northern Paiute." They used the Bridgeport writing system. There is currently a language project, held by University of California, Santa Cruz, dedicated to preserving and dedicating the Northern Paiute Language.[4]
Education
editThe reservation is served by the Eastern Sierra Unified School District.
History
editThe Bridgeport Indian Colony was federally recognized on October 17, 1974.
Today
editThe tribe is governed by a five-person Tribal Council,[5][6] who currently are as follows:
- John Glazier, Tribal Chairman
- Thomas Crawford, Vice-Chairman
- Herb Glazier, Member-at-Large (on reservation)
- David Rambeau, Member-at-Large (off reservation)
- Art Sam, Secretary-Treasurer
References
edit- ^ Northern Paiute Language Project, Dictionary, "Bridgeport Paiute people", Link
- ^ California Indians and Their Reservations. Archived 2010-01-10 at the Wayback Machine San Diego State University Library and Information Access. 2009 (retrieved 8 Dec 2009)
- ^ "Surviving Communities". Yosemite. National Park Service. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Northern Paiute Language Project". Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- ^ Pritzker, 227
- ^ Bridgeport Indian Colony - HOME PAGE (retrieved 15 March 2017)
Further reading
edit- Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.