As the Great Basin ecosystem is very fragile, native lifeways became untenable soon after white settlement due to livestock over-grazing, water diversions and the felling of Pinyon pine groves.
At that time there were few official reservations in the area, and those that did exist were poorly run, even by contemporary standards.
Many Native Americans chose instead to seek jobs in white ranches, farms and cities.
Starting in the early twentieth century, the federal government began establishing Indian trust territories for the colonies on public land.
For example, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony has members with Washoe, Paiute and Shoshone heritage.