Western Region Overview

The Western Regional Office, located in Phoenix Arizona has a service population of approximately 143,000 American Indian people enrolled in forty-two tribes.  It is responsible for 12,950,000 acres primarily in the states of Arizona (excluding the Navajo Region), Nevada and Utah.  Portions are also in California, Oregon and Idaho.  Thirteen Indian Agencies and an Irrigation Project are Western Regional Office partners.

A swift overview of the Region’s tribes include the O’odham, Yaqui, Yuman and Pai Tribes of Arizona’s low and mid deserts and Grand Canyon, and the Apache of the mid-deserts and mountain forests.  The  Hopi  live on Arizona’s Colorado Plateau mesas.  Nevada has many bands and tribes of Shoshone and Paiute people.  The many tribes and bands of Ute people inspired the state of Utah's name.

Caution:

The Western Regional Office has been made aware that there is a list being distributed by others entitled: "Western Shoshone Judgment Roll Progress Report" November 19, 2009, addressed to the Western Shoshone Steering Committee Members. Be advised that the document is not a part of the updates being mailed by the Western Regional Office to the Western Shoshone Steering Committee and Tribal Leaders. The Western Region does not distribute that type of information as it is subject to the Privacy Act.

 Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act

The Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act of 2004 Public Law 108-270 was enacted to provide for the use and distribution of the funds awarded to the Western Shoshone identifiable group under the Indian Claims Commission Docket Number 326-K, and for other purposes. On August 15, 1977, the Indian Claims Commission granted a final award of $26,145,189.89 in Docket 326-K to the Western Shoshone Identifiable Group. Funds were appropriated on December 19, 1978, to satisfy the award.

A link to the status of fund distribution is below:

• Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act Monthly Updates

Chemeheuevi Tribe of Mission Indians - June 28, 2010

Chemehuevi Trust Patent Document - PDF 228kbs

BLM Press Release - 36 kbs