The Bridgeport Indian Colony of California (, lit. those who eat suckers),Northern Paiute Language Project, Dictionary, "Bridgeport Paiute people", Link 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.California Indians and Their Reservations. San Diego State University Library and Information Access. 2009 (retrieved 8 Dec 2009)
Awani descendants are also enrolled in the Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony.
Reservation
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 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 The 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.
Education The reservation is served by the Eastern Sierra Unified School District.
History The Bridgeport Indian Colony was federally recognized on October 17, 1974.
Today The tribe is governed by a five-person Tribal Council,Pritzker, 227Bridgeport Indian Colony - HOME PAGE (retrieved 15 March 2017) who currently are as follows:
Joseph Art Sam, Tribal Chairman Timothy Minder, Vice-chairman David Rambeau, Member-at-Large (on reservation) Shawn Minder, Member-at-Large (off reservation) Joseph Lent, Secretary-Treasurer
References
Further reading Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. .
External links