Constructive conquest in the courts: a legal history of the Western Shoshone lands struggle - 1861-1991.

The federal government helped push through a case in which representatives of a small part of the Western Shoshonis sought restitution for land supposedly confiscated years ago. However, most of the Shoshonis felt that the land still belonged to the tribe and unsuccessfully fought the restitituion claim and the resultant extinguishment of title. This marks the first time that the courts actively participated in confiscating Indian land.