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Show Las Vegas 125 funds could be found, he did not consider it a good idea to exploit the Indians by attracting tourists to the reserve.12 Despite the continuous discussion of alternatives, money was never available and nothing was done to improve the colony. The following years repeated the earlier pattern of neglect: "At this time, the reservation was a sore spot - just a place to live, . . . the BIA didn't do much. People went to work and provided for themselves." 13 In 1945 the well feeding the irrigation reservoir dried up.14 By 1953 the Bureau of Indian Affairs was giving serious consideration to selling the colony and relocating the Nuwuvi. Government officials even wrote to a trucking company next door asking for an estimate of the land's value in the event it was for sale.15 The company responded with an offer to buy a portion of the colony.16 The BIA, because of budget limitations, had been unable since 1945 to make any repairs on the water system at Las Vegas, and water and sanitary conditions reflected this fact.17 Out of concern for these and other conditions at the colony, the Clark County Council of Social Agencies began active discussions with the BIA over the possibility of selling the land. There were two major stumbling blocks in the way of the proposed sale. The Indians did not want to move, and there was a serious question whether the United States could give a clear title to the purchaser.18 The original purchase of the land from Helen Stewart had stated clearly that it was only to be used by the Indians of Southern Nevada. Nevertheless selling the land continued to be basic government policy for several years. Hope was kept alive that sometime in the future an adequate means would be found to accomplish this goal. After investigation in 1958 it was proposed that the Secretary of the Interior sell the land, with the exception of the colony ceme-tary which would be turned over to Las Vegas city for protection and maintenance. The Nuwuvi would then be relocated in "suitable single family housing." Several of the Nuwuvi objected to the idea and expressed a strong desire to remain where they were. After considering concentrating those who objected on a smaller piece of land, the BIA inspector rejected Nuwuvi objections because of possible negative effects on the land value. He felt that any remaining portion of the colony would lower the price the government |
