Washoe Tribe Secures 10,000 Acres in Major California Land Return
The Washoe Tribe has successfully purchased more than 10,000 acres of land near Lake Tahoe, in what stands as one of the largest tribal land returns in the history of California. This significant acquisition represents a pivotal moment for the tribe, which was forcibly removed from its ancestral lands and endured the theft of its individual allotments over generations.
A Historic Purchase for Healing and Conservation
The sprawling property, situated approximately 20 miles north of Reno, Nevada, spans from the Great Basin through the Sierra Nevada, encompassing diverse ecosystems such as sagebrush scrublands and juniper and pine forests. Serrell Smokey, the tribe's chairperson, emphasized the profound importance of this land purchase, describing it as "good medicine for our people" and a crucial step toward healing from historical trauma.
"We were told we could no longer use the land for resources or ceremony. Since that time, the land has been calling us back, and we are answering that call," Smokey stated. "This is a small start to healing from generations of historical trauma, and the benefits will go on for many generations to come." Today, the Washoe Tribe has about 1,500 enrolled members, primarily residing in California and Nevada.
Funding and Collaboration Behind the Acquisition
The tribe collaborated with the Northern Sierra Partnership and the Feather River Land Trust to facilitate this landmark project. Funding for the $6 million property was secured through a $5.5 million grant from the California Wildlife Conservation Board, supplemented by private donations. Additional resources were allocated for planning, assessments, and establishing an endowment to support the tribe's long-term management of the land.
Previously known as Loyalton Ranch, the property has been renamed the Wélmelti Preserve. This acquisition will triple the tribe's current land holdings, as confirmed by Smokey. The preserve serves as a vital habitat for wildlife, including pronghorn, mule deer, and gray wolves, and features springs and key water resources. While the tribe is committed to conservation efforts, the land will also be used to house some tribal members and requires clean-up in areas that have been used as dumping grounds.
Broader Context of the Land Back Movement
This sale marks another milestone for the Land Back movement in California, which has seen tens of thousands of acres returned to tribes that occupied these lands for millennia before European colonization. In June of last year, the Yurok Tribe acquired approximately 47,000 acres near the lower Klamath River, the largest such deal in state history. Similarly, the Tule River Tribe regained 14,672 acres of its ancestral land in Tulare County in 2024.
The Washoe Tribe's recent acquisition will enable the return of traditional cultural practices and foster a deeper connection with the land among younger generations. "Now we actually have something to call ours," Smokey remarked. Looking ahead, the tribe hopes to purchase additional properties across its homelands in the Sierra Nevada.
Lucy Blake, president of the Northern Sierra Partnership, expressed enthusiasm for the future, stating, "It is exciting to know that the Washoe people will be caring for this spectacular landscape going forward." This development underscores a growing recognition of tribal rights and conservation efforts in the region.
