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How did the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 change tribal government in the Great Basin?

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Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin Kaylei Weed (left) of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe with her two sons and mother, Elaine Ethel Weed, at the Wind River Indian Reservation in 2015.

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 significantly altered tribal governance in the Great Basin by facilitating the establishment of local elected tribal councils for the various reservations and colonies in the region.1

Prior to this act, many Indigenous groups in the Great Basin maintained fluid social organizations without formal political hierarchies. The act encouraged tribes to adopt written constitutions and charters, providing them with the legal framework to manage their internal affairs and increase their self-government.23

Following the implementation of these councils, tribes in the Great Basin were able to:
* Develop tribally based economic enterprises, such as ranching, tourism, and light industry.1
* Act as plaintiffs in legal proceedings to reclaim ancestral lands.1
* Utilize federal funds for land purchases, educational assistance, and tribal organization.3

These changes marked a shift toward greater administrative responsibility, although tribes continued to rely on the federal government for the financing of essential services.31