History

Before the mountain men reached the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and even before Spanish explorers, there were the Nuche. The Spanish called them La Utah. They became known as the Ute, Mountain People, who migrated throughout the Colorado Plateau and eastern part of the Great Basin.

For over 300 years, the Utes survived hunting deer and small game and collecting berries, nuts and roots in the lush river valleys. Early Utes weaved baskets from willows to carry water and preserve their food supply.

Travelling in small bands, they referred to each other by their stamping grounds or geographical features. The Uintahs, Yamparikas, Parianuche, Uncompahgres, Weeminuches, Mouache and Capotas occupied most of Colorad and half of Utah.

Territorial claims by miners and homesteaders forced the Utes to accept reservation life. In 1868 a reservation was established in southwest Colorado for the Mouache and Capota which now make up the Southern Utes.

The reservation covers some 680,000 acres and is "checkerboarded" due to the 1898 Homestead that allowed non-Indians to settle lands not being occupied by Southern Utes. Today the Southern Ute Indian Tribe owns about 308,000 acres of the lands within the checkerboarded reservation.

The Ute legacy and heritage lives on at the Southern Ute Indian Cultural Center. The only Ute funded and operated Indian museum in Colorado showcases special exhibits and multi-media programs depicting the early history of the Utes.

The People

There are approximately 1350 members enrolled in the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. About 60% of the members are under the age of 30.

Keeping their culture alive, many members participate in the traditional Bear Dance as well as modern day pow wows. The Southern Ute Heritage Performers provide an educational opportunity for members and tourists alike to experience the Bear Dance and the many dance styles of pow wows.

Cultural Events

The Southern Ute Bear Dance is held every Memorial Day Weekend. One of the oldest and most traditional Ute dances, Bear Dance rejoined the Utes in the spring after wintering in small family groups. The Utes welcomed the signs of spring, danced to recondition their muscles after a long winter rest, and most importantly, young people courted and married members from other bands. The four-day dance concludes with a feast. Cameras and video cameras are strictly prohibited.

The Southern Ute Fair & Pow Wow takes place the second wekend in September. Tribal members exhibit their finest in traditional crafts and art, homemaking and arts and crafts. Activities include contest pow wow, handgames, frybread contest, concert, volleyball and horseshoe tourney, the traditional chicken and other fun horse events.

The Southern Ute Pow Wow Committee is host to the Bear Dance Pow Wow (Memorial Day Weekend), Southern Ute Fair Pow Wow (second weekend in September), Veteran's Day Pow Wow and Sweetheart Pow Wow held in November and February respectively.

Natural Resources

The Southern Ute Reservation is home to eight rivers. All rivers flow south - The Animas, La Plata, Piedra, Florida and Los Pinos - except the Navajo, Rio Blanco and a portion of the San Juan which flow west. Designated tribal waters - portions of the Animas, Los Pinos, Piedra, San Juan and Navajo Rivers - are open to fishing year-round with tribal fishing permits valid January 1 through December 31. A stretch of the Animas River is designated as special waters with tackle and catch restrictions. Lake Capote, a popular fishing and camping site located near Chimney Rock, is temporarily closed for renovation.

Participating in a nation-wide program to restore Bison on Indian lands in the early 1980s, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe's herd has grown to around 75. The tribe's Bison Management Program is working towards self-sufficiency. The program has implemented an irrigation and hay production system to sustain winter feeding. Long-range plans include the marketing of buffalo products. Utes began hunting buffalo when the Spanish introduced the horse around 1640, making traveling long distances easier.

Employment

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is one of the largest year-round employers in La Plata County. Together with the casino and the Southern Ute Community Action Programs, the tribe provides employment opportunities for about 900 people. From communications to waste water treatment facilities, the tribe employs a diverse work force with a commonality of providing services for its members.

Economic Development

Meeting the challenges of economic growth through its gas and coal reserves, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe formed Red Willow Production Company in 1992. Red Willow is wholly-owned and operated by the tribe. It operates about 150 wells and is the 5th largest natural gas producer in the state of Colorado.

In 1994, the tribe formed Red Willow Gathering Company to oversee its investment in Red Cedar Gathering Company. The tribe is a majority owner in the joint-venture that allows the tribe to control access of its production and royalty gas to interstate markets. Red Cedar Gathering Company is one of the largest gas gathering companies in southwest Colorado.

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe, in 1993, signed a compact with the State of Colorado to open a Class III gaming operation on the reservation. The non-alcohol, 24-hour casino features slot machines, blackjack and poker tables, a bingo hall, 36-room lodge, banquet facilities, a buffet-style restaurant and snackbar.