Paiute - A group of the Shoshonean branch of Indians, whose name is said to mean "Water Ute" and "True Ute."  They have been divided into the Northern and Southern Paiute, and students of the Indian are not sure that either group can properly be termed a tribe.

The so called Northern Paiute lived in western Nevada, southeastern Oregon, and a strip of California, while the Southern Paiute occupied territory in western Utah, northwestern Arizona, southeastern Nevada, and southeastern California.  The Southern Paiute usually were termed "Diggers."

The name Paiute has been applied at various times to most of the Shoshonean tribes of west Utah, north Arizona, south Idaho, east Oregon, Nevada, and east and south California.  There is a Paiute County in Utah.
 

Related Information within this Site
[ Chemehuevi ][ Diggers ][ Ute ]