Mary and Carrie Dann were Western Shoshone Native American ranchers and activists in fighting the federal government over land issues and grazing rights. They were sisters. They did not feel they should have to pay grazing fees for land that was Native American land. The contention is the Shoshone did not give away their land but granted rights to Whites to pass through only. This was based on the peace treaty of Ruby Valley of 1863. Their case went all the way to the Supreme Court which ruled based on precedent the land did not belong to the Shoshone. However international court said this was a violation of human rights. In 1979 the Indian Land Commission awarded to the Western Shoshone $26 million for their land. However the Shoshone have refused to take the money and it is just drawing interest. The Dann sisters conducted civil protest by refusing to pay grazing fees.
Even though the United Nations have asked the government to leave the Western Shoshone alone this has been ignored by the federal government.
Mary dann passed away in 2005 from a ranching accident. Carrie Dann passed away in 2021. She with the Shoshone Defense Fund sued U.S. and Canadian Barrick Gold and the expansion of Cortez Hills Project at Mr. Tenabo which is considered sacred by the Shoshone.
