7 groups helping Indigenous tribes in Nevada keep their traditions alive
Local groups like Nuwu Art and IndigenousAF are strengthening tribes in Nevada through art, culture, and community support.
Indigenous tribes in Nevada have spanned tens of thousands of years, and although they’ve faced challenges ranging from decolonization to cultural erosion, several local organizations are devoted to preserving their traditions.
The Silver State is home to nearly 53,000 American Indian and Alaska Native residents (1.7 percent of the total population), as well as many mixed-race Native Americans, according to U.S. Census estimates. The University of Nevada, Reno, puts that number at 62,000.
With 21 federally recognized Indigenous tribes, there are 28 separate reservations, bands, colonies, and community councils. The five larger tribes that all of the Great Basin Tribes in Nevada identify with are:
- Numa (Northern Paiute)
- Newe (Western Shoshone)
- Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute)
- Wá∙šiw (Washoe)
- Mojave People (including Ft. Mojave and the Pipa Aha Macav)
Nevada has several Indigenous organizations and community groups that support, empower, and celebrate Indigenous people, not just on Indigenous Peoples’ Day in October, but all 365 days of the year. Here are seven local groups dedicated to preserving and supporting the traditions and cultures of tribes in Nevada.
1. Nuwu Art
Las Vegas
A community hub and creative sanctuary for the cultural arts, Las Vegas-based Nuwu Art + Activism Studios, 1331 S. Maryland Pkwy., partners with other grassroots and nonprofit Indigenous groups to uplift and strengthen the community through the arts, activism, and education. Nuwu Art also advocates for the equity of Indigenous communities.
Started by Southern Paiute artist Fawn Douglas, the studio and community center offers spaces for artists, businesses, and non-profits to operate and collaborate. Activities on site include art exhibits, educational events, and cultural consulting—anything that promotes, maintains, and revives cultural traditions in Native American, African American, Latinx/Indigenous American, and other communities of color.
2. IndigenousAF
Las Vegas
An empowering and uplifting non-profit, IndigenousAF has been promoting a flourishing Indigenous community in Southern Nevada since 2020. This majority Native-led group is focused on strengthening Indigenous traditions, education, and identity, while creating community opportunities, primarily through free public arts projects and activities. It is also devoted to promoting local artists, performers, and knowledge keepers while providing a space where the community can connect and grow.
IndigenousAF sponsors community workshops on Nuwu Art, featuring traditional basket weaving, storytelling, and cloth badge sewing, as well as monthly Final Fridays events that showcase authentic food, music, and art at the Nuwu Art + Activism Studios. Those interested in getting involved can become members or support the group by purchasing clothing, tote bags, greeting cards, art prints, and more, featuring original designs by Indigenous artists, on the IndigenousAF website.
IndigenousAF recently received a grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts, an organization devoted to advancing innovations in the visual arts and preserving Warhol’s legacy.
3. Tribal Minds, Inc.
Reno
Originating on the Hungry Valley Indian Reservation, a tribal community in Reno-Sparks, Tribal Minds is focused on community development, civic engagement, and Indigenous wellness in urban, rural, and remote areas of Nevada. The Native-led nonprofit unites people, movements, academic institutions, multi-faith groups, nonprofits, foundations, and governments that are similarly dedicated to enhancing Indigenous futures, with a strong emphasis on BIPOC-led organizations.
A grassroots organization, Tribal Minds, represents the state’s Indigenous roots in places where they are underserved. The group recently worked with Paramount’s Content for Change division on Murals for Change, a project that brought murals by Indigenous artists to the Las Vegas Valley.
4. Nevada’s Indian Territory
Carson City
A non-profit organization and marketing arm of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, Nevada’s Indian Territory assists American Indian organizations, Indigenous-owned businesses, and tribes in Nevada in encouraging sustainable Indigenous tourism. The goal is to improve quality of life, strengthen cultural awareness, support inclusion, and respect the cultural identity of Indigenous people in the Great Basin.
Nevada’s Indian Territory aims to expand Indigenous tourism opportunities and educate the public on protecting, preserving, and respecting traditional American Indian arts and cultural resources. The group has developed an app to help visitors plan a variety of adventures related to Indigenous culture, including events, experiences, and itineraries for tours of Indigenous sites throughout the state.
5. Native American Alliance
Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas
Open to those interested in learning more about tribal culture, the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) Native American Alliance works with the college’s Office of Inclusive Learning & Engagement to provide services and support to Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. It unites Indigenous students and promotes recruitment and retention, while also providing education on Indigenous cultures and experiences.
The alliance’s webpage provides links to resources, including scholarships and financial aid for Indigenous students.
6. Office of Indigenous Relations
Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Office of Indigenous Relations serves students, faculty, and the community, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment on campus.
A recent project of the group is the commissioning of a mural on campus by Autumn Harry, a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The Great Basin Indigenous Mural depicts Native American communities in Nevada throughout the years. It serves as a reminder that UNR sits on the traditional homeland of the Numu (Northern Paiute), Wašiw (Washoe), Newe (Western Shoshone), and Nuwu (Southern Paiute) peoples, paying tribute to their perspective and importance.
7. Native Voters Alliance of Nevada (NVAN)
Las Vegas
Indigenous communities are gaining political power in the United States, thanks in part to the Native Voters Alliance Nevada. The nonprofit is an advocacy organization with statewide reach, mobilizing Indigenous voices to vote and endorsing candidates who have a platform rooted in Indigenous culture and values.
The group is inclusive of underserved communities, including women, Indigenous people, and those in the LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC communities, educating and empowering them to take their seats at the table and effect change.
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