A sovereign tribal nation
Honoring our past, respecting traditions, moving forward to our future.
The tribe provides members with various programs and services and operates a variety of tribally owned entities and enterprises. The tribe is engaged in progressive development and highly values self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and maintains committed to being a strong self-governing sovereign nation. The culture of the Paiute people is deeply embedded with the surrounding environment. The natural resources provided by land, water, and air, have been safeguarded by the tribe for numerous years. The traditions of the Paiutes are alive and active today, and can be witnessed in one of the tribes many traditional functions and festivities.
BISHOP PAIUTE TRIBE
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
![paiute history paiute history](https://bishoppaiutetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/about9.jpg)
1912
In 1912, the U.S. Government reserved over 67,000 acres of lands in the Owens Valley for the Indians of this area.
![bishop paiute tribe bishop paiute tribe](https://bishoppaiutetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/about11.jpg)
1932
In 1932, President Hoover revoked the 67,000 acres reserved land and placed the lands in watershed protection status for the City of Los Angeles.
![Sky Rock Petroglyphs](https://bishoppaiutetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/about12.jpg)
1936
In 1936, the City of Los Angeles wanted the remaining lands and the federal government traded these lands for the 875 acres that now comprise the Bishop Paiute Reservation located at the base of the magnificent Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains.
![owens valley paiutes owens valley paiutes](https://bishoppaiutetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/about10.jpg)
Forver
The Paiute people who live on the Bishop Paiute Reservation are descendants of the “Nu-Mu”, the original people of the Owens Valley.
The Bishop Paiute Tribe
in the present
Today the Paiute people are the fifth largest California Tribe, with 2,000 members and one of the smallest land bases. Despite the land predicament the Tribal government has upgraded technical capabilities and developed infrastructure for the present and future growth of the Bishop Paiute Reservation.
BISHOP PAIUTE TRIBAL COUNCIL
The Bishop Paiute Tribal Council is the governing board for the tribe and it’s people. The council is elected by a voting system set forth by the tribe’s own bylaws and governance policies.
![meryl picard](https://www.bishoppaiutetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_6227.jpg)
MERYL PICARD
TRIBAL CHAIRWOMAN
meryl.picard@bishoppaiute.org
(760) 873-3584 ext. 1220
![Jeff Romero - Bishop Paiute Tribe Tribal Vice-Chairman](https://bishoppaiutetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/jromero.jpg)
JEFF ROMERO
VICE-CHAIRMAN
jeff.romero@bishoppaiute.org
(760) 873-3584 ext. 1240
![Steven Orihuela - Bishop Paiute Tribe Tribal Council](https://bishoppaiutetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sorihuela.jpg)
STEVEN ORIHUELA
TREASURER/SECRETARY
steven.orihuela@bishoppaiute.org
(760) 873-3584 ext. 1230
![Allen Summers - Bishop Paiute Tribe Tribal Council Member](https://www.bishoppaiutetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/mitchtemp.jpg)
MITCHELL DAVID
COUNCIL MEMBER
mitchell.david@bishoppaiute.org
(760) 873-3584 ext. 1210
![Joyce White - Bishop Paiute Tribe Tribal Council Member](https://bishoppaiutetribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/jwhite.jpg)
JOYCE WHITE
COUNCIL MEMBER
joyce.white@bishoppaiute.org
(760) 873-3584 ext. 1250