ABSTRACT
The nature and function of food-named territorial groups (e.g., "Tule-Eaters") in the aboriginal Great Basin have long been subjects for anthropological debate. Were these "groups" socio-political entities, or did the names cited simply label resource areas? Unpublished data on the Northern Paiute of western Nevada collected by W. Park are analyzed to show that camp groups (nogadi) of up to ten coresident families occupied discrete home districts. These groups, which were frequently given food-name designations, played key roles in defining rights to resources. In the relatively densely occupied western Great Basin, individual families defended rights to the products of pinyon groves, trapping areas, fishing stations, and corrals and impounds used in hunting. Individuals moved freely between home districts, but were expected to "check in" with local residents before gathering food. Home districts occupied by food-named groups typically corresponded to natural drainage systems and provided a lasting regional identity to individuals raised there. Such named groups were highly salient to people throughout the Great Basin, and, following the suggestion of contemporary informants, may have provided key ecological information as to the availability of alternative foods at a distance, thus affecting the relation of population to resources over a large area.
