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Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson visited the Reservation of the Shivwits Band of Paiutes on Oct. 7, 2022. The lieutenant governor met with Chairwoman Hope Silvas, the Shivwits Band Council, and the Shivwits Band Corporation Board to learn about governance and economic issues of importance to the Band. Regarding the lieutenant governor’s visit, Chairwoman Silvas said, “The Shivwits Band sincerely appreciates Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson taking the time to meet with us and discuss Band endeavors. We appreciated the interest she showed and are encouraged by our discussions. Great things will come from our joint efforts.”
Among the items discussed were a proposed Zions Landing economic development along I-15 near Toquerville, Utah, that would feature a 1000-acre,mixed-use sports resort and cultural community and would include a Jim Thorpe Collegiate Academy Public Charter School. Additional points of discussion focused on Band sovereignty, a possible health clinic on or near the Shivwits Reservation, Band water rights, and a recently awarded $500,000 grant the Band received to conduct preliminary engineering for an innovative solar-hydroelectric power plant the Band hopes to construct on the Reservation to generate clean solar and hydroelectric energy for those living on the Reservation.
“I was honored to join Shivwits Chairwoman Silvas, the Band Council,and the Band Corporation Board on their reservation, home to a beautiful andwelcoming community of people who have lived on these lands since timeimmemorial,” Lt. Gov. Henderson said. “These discussions are important andmeaningful and show the value of close collaboration and communication. Thestate of Utah is committed to maintaining strong government-to-governmentrelations and helping the Shivwits Band grow and prosper in Washington County.We can accomplish so much when we work together as sisters and brothers,friends, and Utahns.”
The lieutenant governor was also briefed on economic development efforts of the Shivwits Band Corporation, which currently operates six businesses in five different industries. One of those businesses, Kaiva Corporation, received over sixty million dollars in contract awards during the 2022 fiscal year. Other Band corporate ventures discussed included the million-dollar expansion of the Shivwits Convenience Store, ongoing construction of a five-field sports complex, and Sovereign Nations Insurance, an insurance company co-owned by the Shivwits Band of Paiutes, the Kanosh Band of Paiutes, and the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, that currently insures 6,000 households.
The Band presented the lieutenant governor with handcrafted beadwork as a token of their appreciation for her visit.
