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Show The Nuwuvi 11 there was any band larger, it was the Moapits, who lived west of the Tonoquints on the banks of the Muddy River. North of the Moapits were the Matisabits or Panaca Nuwuvi. They lived at the north end of Meadow Valley Wash near the present-day towns of Panaca and Pioche. West of them in the Pahranagat Valley were the Pahranagits. Southwest of the Pahrana-gits were the Kwiengomits who lived in the area of present-day Indian Springs. Centered around Las Vegas, Red Rock, and Mt. Charleston were the Pegesits who lived as far east as present-day Hoover Dam. On the western edge of Nevada were the Pahrumpits. They lived in Pahrump Valley and on the western slopes of the Spring Mountains. The southern end of Nuwuvi territory was occupied by the Movweits on the north of the Mohaves and by the Chemehuevis on the south. All of these bands as well as the many smaller ones thought of themselves as one people. They were all Nuwuvi which meant to them "the Indians." They shared a culture which had a special attachment to the land. Their lifestyle was simple, but most of all it was peaceful and in harmony with the land of many contrasts in which they lived. The land provided what the people needed, and they knew where to find the sources of food, water, and materials from which to make tools, clothing, and shelter. Often it has been asserted that the Nuwuvi barely were surviving in a harsh environment. They were actually a culturally well-adapted people in an area with varied natural resources. Little is known about the specific resources they used because Anglo settlers destroyed much of the plant and animal life of the area. Most Nuwuvi economic activities were undertaken by individual families, although many families of the same band often gathered together for communal deer hunts, rabbit drives, and celebrations. An informal council of the adults made the decisions. These councils chose men of good reputation for knowledge or strength or persons with special powers to lead the hunts or ceremonies, but as has been pointed out, their powers were limited. In earlier years larger bands did not have one chief or leader who had authority over the entire band. Instead there were several leaders, each of whom was limited in influence to a local camp or |