The Paiute people who live on the Bishop Paiute Reservation are descendants of the "Nu-Mu", the original people of the Owens Valley. In 1912, the U.S. Government reserved over 67,000 acres of lands in the Owens Valley for the Indians of this area. In 1932, President Hoover revoked the 67,000 acres reserved land and placed the lands in watershed protection status for the City of Los Angeles.

In 1936, the City of Los Angeles wanted the remaining lands and the federal government traded these lands for the 875 acres that now comprise the Bishop Paiute Reservation located at the base of the magnificent Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Today the Paiute people are the fifth largest California Tribe, with 2,000 members and one of the smallest land bases. Despite our land predicament the Tribal government has upgraded technical capabilities and developed infrastructure for the present and future growth of the Bishop Paiute Reservation.

To support Tribal growth the Tribal government developed and established the Toiyabe Indian Health Project and Dialysis Center, Head Start and Day Care, Education Center, Economic Development Center, Career Development Center, Paiute and Shoshone Cultural Center and Museum, Elders Program, and a Casino.