Western Shoshone overwhelmingly support claims distribution

Tuesday, May 26, 1998 | 10:13 a.m.

In Elko, 432 of those who stood in long lines to vote in person on Saturday cast "yes" ballots for the distribution, while 48 said "no." In balloting by mail, the count was 589 for distribution with five against.

In Fallon on Sunday, the vote was unanimous, with 109 voting for distribution, according to Larry Piffero, a member of the steering committee that pushed for the vote on the distribution.

"Our people never agree on a perfect document," Wilbur Woods, Elko Band Chairman, told the Elko Daily Free Press. But he added, "I believe it's time the government pay for the wrongs done to the Indian people."

Woods said the money is compensation for the destruction of the Indian lifestyle, for locking up Indians on reservations and spreading disease.

Attorney John Paul Kennedy said he supported the idea of distribution as soon as possible, with 100 percent of the money going to people who are at least one-quarter Western Shoshone blood.

No contingency fee will be required to pay for legal costs. The original 1979 settlement was for $26 million, which has been bearing interest for the last two decades.

Despite the lopsided vote, there were vocal opponents of the distribution who thought the tribal members were entitled to more compensation for past wrongs. The $105 million would amount to $26,250 if divided equally among 4,000 beneficiaries.

"You might be happy with a couple thousand dollars, but it goes fast," Lois Whitney said. "We need to keep fighting for 74 million acres of Shoshone land and billions of dollars not millions."