Though he is retiring, Melendez and those who know him know he won’t be gone for good. Melendez himself, though enrolled with the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, had a brother who recently died and lived at the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribes’ Reservation, where their mother was born. Many people across the state have family roots in multiple tribes. His effort to bar dual enrollment, meaning an individual could only be part of one tribe, to establish more sovereignty for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, was criticized by not only the public but also Melendez’s parents. However, Melendez’s leadership was not without controversy. Harry Reid to a seat on the United State Commission on Civil Rights and has received two lifetime achievement awards - from the Native American Finance Officers Association and the National Indian Health Service. 13.ĭuring his time in office, Melendez and the tribal council significantly expanded the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony’s land, made strides in tribal health care and created a unique tax system that is known across Indian Country as the “Nevada system.” He was also appointed by the late Sen. The largest plot of land is more than 15,000 acres in Hungry Valley north of Sparks.Īfter 31 years as chairman and 36 years on the tribal council, Melendez retired Dec. Administrative buildings and some residential development are located in the urban core of Reno, but bits of land in South Reno and Spanish Springs are also colony land. Reno-Sparks Indian Colony can refer to the 1,296 enrolled members of the colony, or a patchwork of land owned by the colony within and around Reno.

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