The Smith River Rancheria is located in Smith River in the north west part of the State of Califonia. With the Pacific Ocean to the west and the majestic ancient Redwood Forest to the east the Smith River Rancheria is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The members of the Smith River Rancheria are of the Tolowa Dee-ni' Tribe. The aboriginal lands of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Indians lay along the Pacific coast between WilsonCreek to the south, SixesRiver to the north and inland to the Applegate River. Yan’-daa-k’vt, The Center of the World, is their place of genesis. Their indigenous names for themselves are the Dee-ni’ or Xvsh. Their language is a member of the Athabaskan language family. Included in these aboriginal lands are the Chit-dee-ni’ (Chetco) and the Tuu-du’-dee-ni’ (Tututni). The pre-contact Dee-ni’ population exceeded ten thousand. The survivance of the Dee-ni’ and their language and religion have endured the fire storm of European contact, their obliteration and their subjugation.
The Nelechundun Business Council had formed in 1973 to re-build the Nee-dash Ceremony and to confront Termination. The Business Council efforts resulted in the return of Nee-dash; as an open ceremony at Nii~-lii~-chvn-dvn in 1976 and in acquiring a successful grant from the Administration of Native Americans for the Tolowa Status Clarification Project in 1982. The project developed a Tolowa Nation concept and filed a petition for Federal Acknowledgement with the Department of Interior in 1983, the reversing of Termination was fulfilled by the Tillie Hardwick case. The Hardwick decision restored the Tolowa and U.S. Government Trust relationship. The renewed federal acknowledgement of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ absolved the need for the Business Council to proceed with the Tolowa Nation federal acknowledgement effort. The Business Council evolved into the Tolowa Nee-dash Society in 1997 and continues to support traditional Dee-ni’ religious practices.
The Trust restoration called for the dissolution of the Howonquet Community Association and a devastating and capricious division of the Dee-ni’ by the establishment of two separate governments, one at the Elk Valley Ranchera and a second at the Smith River Rancheria. The constitution of Howonquet Indian Council of the Smith River Rancheria affords the inclusion of all the Tolowa Dee-ni’ to participate in the Federal-Indian Trust relationship as a sovereign nation. Their membership has enjoyed the renewed sense of re-centeredness brought by the coupling together of the restored lands at the Smith River Rancheria and the trust lands of the Jane Hostatlas Allotment at Nii~-lii~-chvn-dvn. These renewed forums of restoration allow the Dee-ni’ to continue the work of social development, cultural and linguistic regeneration and tribal development that was left wounded by Termination. The survival of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ language and their religion remains a miracle.
Today's Rancheria
The Smith River Rancheria is a sovereign nation where the pride of the Tolowa Dee-ni' is evident throughout the community. Thanks to the revenue generated from the tribe's Lucky 7 Casino our tribal members are on the path to economic self-sufficiency. Today the Smith River Rancheria has established a variety of economic enterprises and is following a solid plan for preservation and growth. Members benefit from Tribal resources for opportunities to further their education and to become contributing members and leaders of the community.
The Rancheria leads by example in community involvement and stewardship of the land. The Smith River Rancheria manages it's own fresh drinking water and is opening their own waste water treatment facility by June 2009. Since time immortal the Tribe has managed the resources of the lands, rivers, ocean and streams. The value of these resources to the Tribal members are as apparent today as they were then.