WiserEarth Help Desk

The Western Shoshone Defense Project was established in 1991 by the Western Shoshone National Council to provide support to Mary and Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone grandmothers faced with the confiscation of their livestock which they graze on Western Shoshone homelands. While we started as volunteers, in the last decade with the support of many individuals and foundations, we have grown into an organization with paid staff that asserts Shoshone rights against violations to Newe Sobobia.

Since the 1950s, the U.S has tested hundreds of nuclear weapons on Western Shoshone homelands and disposed of thousands of metric tons of radioactive waste in unlined trenches at the Nevada Test Site. Currently Congress has passed legislation to dump all of the nuclear industry's high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.

Modern heap leach gold mining is gauging the heart of Western Shoshone homelands. Newe Sogobia ranks third in gold production behind South Africa and Australia.Nevada's contribution is 76%, 2/3 of which is dug from Newe Sogobia. Gold mining is having a devastating affect upon Western Shoshone homelands, water, and cultural areas. Because the rights of Newe continue to be ignored, the Newe have no voice in these land use decisions.

As an indigenous grassroots organization, we are taking the lead to educate and organize for the protection of Newe Sogobia and Newe rights. We are guided by Western Shoshone traditional and tribal leaders, a seven member advisory board and the Western Shoshone National Council, the traditional Western Shoshone government.

Our Mission

To affirm Newe [Western Shoshone] jurisdiction over Newe Sogobia [Western Shoshone homelands] by protecting, preserving, and restoring Newe rights and lands for present and future generations based on cultural and spiritual traditions.

Programs

* The Cultural Preservation Program

promotes Newe culture and traditional practices in order to strengthen our work to defend Newe homelands and cultural sites.

* Mining and Environmental Project

prevents the destruction of Newe Sogobia through research, advocacy, education,cultural mapping and legal strageties.

* The Land Recognition Program works to affirm Western Shoshone land rights to provide for Newe economic, cultural and spiritual needs.

* International Human Rights

advocacy within the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

*Outreach & Education at home and abroad to assert Newe land rights.

The Western Shoshone Horse Defense Fund was set up to ensure the protection of Western Shoshone horses through the distribution of these horses to Western Shoshone tribes and Native American Nations for economic and youth empowerment program