Carrie Dann, along with her sister Mary Dann, dedicated their lives to a decades-long battle against the United States government’s control of Western Shoshone ancestral lands. Their unwavering commitment to preserving the Western Shoshone treaty rights and challenging the federal government’s actions made them prominent figures in the fight for indigenous land sovereignty. This article explores the remarkable story of the Dann sisters and their tireless efforts to protect their heritage and ancestral lands.
Early Life and Roots
Carrie Dann was born in 1933 in Eureka County, Nevada, to Dewey Dann and Sophia Hall Dann, both members of the Shoshone Tribe. The Dann family lived on a ranch in Crescent Valley, which had been granted to their father by the federal government. Instead of creating a reservation, the government allocated approximately 160 acres of land for farming and cattle grazing to select Shoshone men in Crescent Valley.
Carrie and her siblings attended grade school in Beowawe and later attended Stewart Indian School in Carson City for high school. During her school years, Carrie was actively involved in various activities, including working on the school newspaper, playing basketball, and participating in school plays.
The Battle Begins
In the 1970s, a contentious conflict emerged between Carrie and Mary Dann and the federal government’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Dann sisters stopped paying grazing fees to the government for their cattle, arguing that, according to the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley, the Western Shoshone Tribe legally owned the land, and they were not required to pay grazing fees. The federal government disagreed and sued the Danns in 1974, alleging that their cattle were trespassing on federal lands without permits or payment of grazing fees mandated by the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934.
Carrie and Mary Dann steadfastly maintained that their aboriginal title to the land exempted them from government requirements for permits and fees. When they refused to comply, the BLM began seizing their cattle.
Legal Battles and Supreme Court Ruling
The Dann sisters’ legal battle escalated as they challenged the government’s control of Western Shoshone ancestral lands. They argued that nearly 26 million acres of land, known as Newe Sogobia or the People’s Earth Mother, were not legally alienated by the Treaty of 1863. According to the treaty, the U.S. formally recognized Western Shoshone rights to a vast territory encompassing parts of Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and California.
In 1979, the Indian Claims Commission awarded the Western Shoshone Tribe $26 million for the land, and the federal government deposited this money in the tribe’s account. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that the tribe had lost title to the land when the government deposited the funds, even though the tribe had refused to accept the money.
Environmental Advocacy
Carrie Dann’s activism extended beyond land rights. She also vehemently opposed several mining projects, including the expansion of Barrick Gold Corporation’s mining project in Cortez Hills. Additionally, she fought against the shipment of nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain and advocated for relief for tribal residents affected by nuclear testing. In 2011, she was arrested in an anti-nuclear protest at the Nevada Test Site, standing alongside actor Martin Sheen and other activists.
Legacy and Passing
Carrie Dann’s legacy lives on in her daughter, Patricia Paul, and three grandchildren. Her son, Mark Knight, passed away in 2015. Her sister Mary Dann, with whom she fought tirelessly for land rights, preceded her in death in 2005. Carrie Dann passed away at home on January 1, 2021, at the age of 87.
Preservation of Their Story
The Dann sisters’ decades-long struggle and their dedication to preserving Western Shoshone land rights have left an indelible mark on the history of indigenous activism in the United States. Their story and the records of their fight are now housed in the University of Nevada, Reno Special Collections and University Archives, providing a valuable resource for understanding the legal, cultural, and environmental challenges faced by indigenous peoples in the West.
Carrie and Mary Dann will be remembered not only as fierce defenders of their ancestral lands but also as symbols of resilience and unwavering commitment in the face of adversity. Their legacy continues to inspire those who advocate for indigenous rights and environmental justice across the nation.