NATIVE AMERICAN SUBURBANITES
Northern Paiutes formed an integral population in Virginia City from the 1860s-1880s as day laborers, servants, woodcutters, traditional craftspeople, and market suppliers. Native American's sold Pyramid Lake cutthroat trout, game and pine nuts to Euroamerican residents. A Territorial Enterprise article entitled "Once a Piute" related former Comstock reporter Mark Twain's request for pinyon nuts, as they were in short supply in Connecticut.
Northern Paiutes “Adam and Eve” converted to Catholicism through the efforts of Father Manogue of Saint Mary’s of the Mountain. Catholic Indian families probably occupied an encampment near the Sisters of Charity Hospital.
Northern Paiutes lived on the outskirts of Virginia City and Gold Hill in several encampments, possibly representing different bands. Northern Paiute women continued daily subsistence rounds, but, instead of traditional foodstuffs, exploited the wasteful nature of a booming economy, and collected bruised fruits, vegetables, etc. from the local merchants.
Artifacts from a Virginia City Paiute encampment (26St2009)
