Board of Trustees
Owens Valley Board of Trustees Historical Facts
The Owens Valley Paiute-Shoshone Board of Trustees was established by the “1962 Land Ordinance” which was approved April 5, 1962 by the majority vote of tribal members residing on the Big Pine, Lone Pine and Bishop Reservations. The Owens Valley Paiute-Shoshone Board of Trustees, now herein referred as the OVBT are elected tribal officials recognized by their respective tribal memberships. The OVBT is a seven member board in which five (5) members represent the Bishop Paiute Reservation, One (1) represents the Big Pine Paiute Reservation and one (1) represents the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Reservation. The OVBT was delegated to promote the general welfare, safeguard tribal interests, conserve and develop tribal lands and resources. Throughout the years the OVBT has received Federal grants to administer social and economic programs for the three reservations.
The Owens Valley Career Development Center was established in 1976 by the OVBT. The OVBT are the designated grantee to oversee the various program operations of the Owens Valley Career Development Center which operates through tribal, federal and state funded grants/programs. The Owens Valley Career Development Center is providing educational, vocational, and social service programs to native people in five California counties. Owens Valley Career Development Center is focusing on enhancing the quality of life by providing opportunities for native people to improve the quality of life by focusing on self-sufficiency through education and job readiness programs. The most important aspect of Owens Valley Career Development Center programs are to protect, preserve and promote native cultures in the spirit of positive nation building today and for future generations to come.
