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Southern Paiute culture is unique and rich. Our language is a different dialect of the Southern Paiute/Ute language group and our People are known for their basketmaking skills.
As San Juan Southern Paiutes, we are a distinct tribe and our traditional territory is in southeastern Utah and north central Arizona within lands designated by the United States as the Navajo Reservation.
As San Juan Southern Paiutes, we are strong and resilient in the face of many challenges. We are committed to providing a future for our People that is built on growth and sustainability and caring for our elders and children.
Paiute and Navajo Nation sign historic treaty. On March 18th, at Hidden Springs Arizona, north of Tuba City, Johnny M. Lehi, Sr., President of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and Kelsey Begaye, President of the Navajo Nation, signed the first treaty that two Indian Tribes have signed with each other in 160 years.
The Tribal Council is advocating very strongly on Capitol Hill and working together to ensure a future for Tribal Members by working toward establishing a permanent homeland, including a Water Settlement that will enable the Tribe to be more self-sufficient, creating new jobs, offering educational services through economic growth and allowing the Tribe the ability to apply for more funding to build homes, schools, and Health Care.
We have a very dedicated and talented team serving our Tribe.
Since 2016, our leadership has been committed to addressing the needs of our People — developing application forms for assistance, providing wood, congregated meals for the elderly, and water distributions, while facing the devastating challenges of the pandemic with prayer, tears, and resolve. Following that season, our focus turned to the long-awaited ratification of the treaty, so our People could have homestead on their land. Though time moves quickly and many goals and milestones remain ahead of us, we are a work in progress, and we will continue to wu'kah'kah nah'r'uhn. Eachu'o'pahni, pah'utsi gabi, hi'tahmi'wee'tu.
Richard Graymountain
NORTHERN AREA COUNCIL
Click the links below for more information on upcoming events and meet the Council.
