Unity and future goals stressed by three Ute tribes

Carol Harvey, Navajo, new Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs executive secretary (left), attended the annual Tri-Ute spring meeting held at the time of the Denver March Powwow. In the front row are young Ute Mountain Ute royalty waiting to be introduced to attendees from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Ute Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah, as well as those making presentations to the group.

Although the legislature honored the “rich and storied heritage” of all three Ute tribal nations, it reserved continued support for the two Colorado Ute tribes “in their own efforts to improve public safety, education, health care and law enforcement on their reservations.”

It was those social and economic areas of need that provided most of the discussion at both meetings, rather than the 19th century attempts to force the Utes to leave their nomadic lifestyle and take up farming, leading to a confrontation termed the Meeker Massacre by area settlers.

Matthew Box, Southern Ute tribal chairman, described problems tribal members encountered after the tribe assumed management of the formerly IHS-operated Southern Ute Health Center in southwestern Colorado.

Because of limited funding, services IHS should have paid for were not being paid and when the tribe took over the operation last year, there were $1.7 million in unpaid bills for tribal members alone and some of the bills were sent to collection agencies. The tribe has worked to alleviate the problem for tribal members, but it is still an IHS responsibility, he said.

Both Ernest House Sr., Ute Mountain Ute tribal chairman, who chaired the Tri-Ute meeting, and Heart stressed health care for tribal members, noting the aging of baby boomers and rising rates of diabetes and heart ailments.

House said his tribe is looking at priorities that may include renewable energy, hydropower, coal initiatives and possible additions to the tribe’s casino, “to see if we really want to go that route.” Nearly all tribal officials said education was a priority, citing high dropout rates and a need for greater student support.

Curtis Cesspooch, Northern Ute tribal chairman, described changes on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, including the leveling of the old Bottle Hollow Resort and its replacement with a new tribal museum. He also said a bottling plant may be operating by late spring, noting that “a lot of old enterprises failed because of marketing defects.”

Cesspooch described a conflict with the Utah Transit Authority, when the tribe successfully confronted UTA over its attempt to extend light rail into a cultural site. Now, however, UTA is trying to use a nearby private site as a possible unlimited density development and, because it is on private land, feels it can bypass environmental and tribal consultation laws in a move by an agency he termed “oppressive.”

In another area, the Tri-Ute Games for youth July 21 – 24 on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation may have the added benefit of fighting obesity and diabetes among young people and can foster identity, tribal leaders said.

Box described the gathering as one example of the tribes’ getting together so youth can meet their relatives in the various bands and “know who they are,” and the games can promote and develop athletes for the Native American Indigenous Games and Olympics competition. He also pointed out that the upcoming spring Bear Dances are an opportunity for collective renewal.

Terry Knight, a Ute Mountain Ute spiritual and cultural leader, suggested an event at the Tri-Ute Games for throwing the atlatl, a 10,000-year-old spear throwing device. Others proposed a revival of shinney, an informal kind of lacrosse.

At the CCIA and Tri-Ute meetings the new CCIA chair, Carol Harvey, Navajo, was introduced, and outgoing chair Ernest House Jr., Ute Mountain Ute, was honored for his five years of service and accomplishments. He was enrobed in Pendleton blankets by the CCIA and his tribe and was given the ancestor name, Tapuche, connoting rock, staunch support and strength.

A private firm and several federal agencies presented their programs to the Tri-Ute meeting, including the Forest Service, which fielded questions about potential confrontations between its staff and Native people authorized to collect plants or purification lodge rocks on public lands, which are also “ceded aboriginal lands,” it was noted.