The Fort McDermitt Military Reservation was established 14 August 1865 at the former site of Quinn River Camp No.

33 and a stagecoach stop, Quinn River Station, in what was a traditional seasonal homeland of the Paiute, Shoshone and Bannock peoples.

It was named after Lt. Col. Charles McDermit, commander of the Military District of Nevada, who was killed in a skirmish in the area in 1865.

[10][11] The Paiute had traditional territory ranging from the Southwest up into Nevada, Oregon and southwestern Idaho.

[12][13] They had to give up their traditional, hereditary chiefs as leaders in favor of an elected, representative form of government.

It also had a Corporate Charter (drafted by the federal government and containing provisions not required by the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.)

The ordinance did not address conflicts with standing definitions of members, as noted above (and in Article II, Section 1(a) and (b)).