About Us

Skull Valley Band of Goshute

Rooted in our ancestors, guided by the land
About History
Goshute - History-1

Our People, Our Home

A Small Nation,
Strong in Spirit

The Skull Valley Band of Goshute is a federally recognized Native American tribe in Tooele County, Utah. We are one of two Goshute bands, part of the larger Shoshonean-speaking peoples of the Great Basin.

Though few in number, we are strong in unity. Our people live close to the land, guided by tradition, and committed to protecting our way of life for generations to come.

Tribal Members

Land Area

Established

Years of Heritage

Our Story Through Time

From the Great Basin to Skull Valley

Before Utah’s borders were drawn, the Goshute lived freely across vast valleys and mountain ranges. We gathered from the land, hunted with respect, and lived by the rhythms of nature.

About Us 2

Resilience Through Change

When settlers arrived in the 1800s, our people faced loss of land and hardship. Yet through every trial — from floods to forced displacement — the Goshute spirit endured. The establishment of the Skull Valley Reservation in 1912 gave us a place to stand once more, on our own terms.

Preserving the Future

Today, our tribe continues to protect our lands, language, and culture. We walk forward with respect for our ancestors and responsibility for those yet to come.

Our story is still being written every day, in every family, in every step across the desert that has always been our home.

A Journey of Strength

Our History at a Glance

1766

First recorded contact with Spanish missionaries

1863

Treaty with the U.S. government

1912

Reservation established by Executive Order

1990s

Environmental justice activism begins

Today

Thriving sovereign community

1776

First recorded contact with Spanish missionaries

1863

Treaty with the U.S. government

1912

Reservation established by Executive Order

1990s

Environmental justice activism begins

Today

Thriving sovereign community