Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

November 29, 2021

Western Shoshone Ian Zabarte 'Treaty Has Not Been Honored'

Ian Zabarte
Treaty has not been honored

Western Shoshone Ian Zabarte responds to editorial in Las Vegas Sun: 'Biden taking long-overdue steps to reverse neglect of Indigenous people'

By Western Shoshone Ian Zabarte
Censored News
Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 

In response to the Nov. 18 editorial, “Biden taking long-overdue steps to reverse neglect of Indigenous people”: The president has not taken action to create a reservation guaranteed by law for the benefit and protection of the Western Shoshone people, authorized by Congress in Article 6 of the Treaty of Ruby Valley.

The Shoshone people are denied our right to self-determination, title and interest in our own property. Shoshone ranchers were blamed by the Bureau of Land Management for range destruction caused by nuclear weapons testing. Radioactive fallout caused the Shoshone people adverse health consequences significantly higher than other Americans documented in our research, “The Assessment of Radiation Exposures in Native American Communities from Nuclear Weapons Testing in Nevada, March 2000 Risk Analysis.” Our research is the basis for contentions in Yucca Mountain licensing by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that stopped the $15 billion project.


The Shoshone people need research funding and additional compensation to mitigate impacts from illness caused by radiation exposure. The Shoshone need a safe reservation homeland guaranteed by treaty.

The Shoshone have confidence in the Constitution, a piece of paper signed for the equal protection and prosperity of all Americans. We need action by the president to fulfill the promise made to the Shoshone people by treaty.

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