| OCR Text |
Show 33 1ml. CI. Coma. 457 After hearing and.weighing the evidence, the Commission determined, in Finding 26 (11 Ind. CI. Comm. 837 at 416) as follows: The Commission further finds that the Coshnto Trlb. Western Shoshone identifiable group exclusively u.scd and occupied tlic.ir respective territories as described in Findings 22 and 23 (except the Western Shoshone lands in the present State of California) until by gradual en crone! IT. cut by whites, settlers and ethers, and the acquisition, disposition or taking of their lands by the United States for its own use and benefit, or the use and benefit of its citizens, the way of life of these Indians was disrupted and they were deprived of their lands. For these reasons the Commission nay not now definitely set the date of acquisition of these lands by the United States. The Commission, however, finds that the United States, without the payment of compensation, acquired, controlled, or treated these lands of the Gcshute Tribe and the Western Shoshone group as public lands from date or dates long prior to this action to be hereinafter determined upon further proof unless the parties may agree upon a date. We note particularly that the Commission determined, in addition to the gradual encroachment on Western Shoshone lands by whites, settlers, and others, that the United States had acquired, disposed of, or taken, for its own use and benefit, lands of the plaintiff. This finding is an adjudication that title was extinguished, as stated expressly in paragraph 6 of the Commission's interlocutory order of October 16, 1962, in which the Conrnission concluded as a matter of lav/ and fact: |
