Seuvarits Utes facts for kids
The Seuvarits Utes were a group of Native Americans. They were part of the larger Northern Ute tribe. They lived in the area around what is now Moab, Utah. This land was near the Grand River (now called the Colorado River) and the Green River. The Seuvarits were also known by other names like Elk Mountain Utes or Green River Utes. They were involved in a conflict called the Black Hawk War. Over time, the Seuvarits and other Ute groups faced many challenges. Their numbers went down because of diseases and wars in the late 1800s. The United States government later moved them to special lands called reservations.
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About the Seuvarits Utes
The Seuvarits people lived in a dry, desert-like area. This environment shaped their way of life and traditions. They moved around the lands east and west of the La Sal Mountains. They used the resources from the nearby Grand River (now Colorado River) and the Green River. When they met Mormons (also known as Latter-day Saints), the Seuvarits faced new diseases. These diseases, along with wars, caused their population to shrink.
After 1873, the remaining Seuvarits joined with other Native American groups. These included the Moanunt, San Pitch, Timpanogos, and Koosharem. Together, they became known as the Uintah Utes by government officials. These combined groups were moved to the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in Eastern Utah. Many of their descendants still live there today. Because their land was dry, the Seuvarits did not use or raise many horses until after the 1860s. The Seuvarits Utes are considered part of the Northern Ute people.
Daily Life and Culture
The Seuvarits and other Ute tribes spoke a language called Shoshonean. This language is a type of Uto-Aztecan. People who spoke Shoshonean had separated from other Uto-Aztecan speaking tribes a long time ago.
To travel easily across the large Great Basin region, bigger groups would split into smaller family units. This helped them move faster and more efficiently. Finding food was very important for survival. Ute groups divided their land into hunting and gathering spots. After some time, they would move to a new spot. This allowed the environment to grow back its resources naturally.
The men of the group hunted animals like elk, deer, and antelope. They used every part of the animal. For example, they used hides for clothes and tipi covers. Antlers and bones were used for tools or beads. The Seuvarits Utes especially hunted antelope during the fall and winter. The Seuvarits people usually avoided the nearby Book Cliffs. This was because the area was empty and had few resources. They relied on the Green River and Grand River (now Colorado River) for food.
Women had the job of trapping smaller animals. They also gathered plants like amaranth, wild onion, and ricegrass. These plants grew naturally in the Great Basin. The Seuvarits women were known for their beautiful clothing. They also made cradleboards decorated with quillwork.
Before horses and white settlers arrived, the Ute groups, including the Seuvarits, used tools made from wood and stone. These tools included bows and arrows, baskets, and throwing sticks. The Seuvarits people traded with nearby tribes. They exchanged items for things like pottery.
In the winter, the Seuvarits and other Ute groups gathered around campfires. They would tell stories. During this time, they also fixed tools and made new clothes. These clothes were for the spring and summer seasons. Around these campfires, chiefs would announce important events. One such event was the Bear Dance. This traditional dance happened in the springtime. It represented new life and fresh beginnings. The Seuvarits people tried to live in peace with their environment.
History of the Seuvarits
Elk Mountain Mission
In April 1855, about 40 men were chosen for the Elk Mountain Mission. This mission was from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were sent to the area of present-day Moab, Utah. Alfred N. Billings led the mission. On June 10, 1855, the missionaries reached the Grand River valley. There, they met the Seuvarits people for the first time.
At first, the Seuvarits people and their chief, St. John, were friendly. The missionaries felt safe around them. But problems started when the missionaries began building a stone fort. The Seuvarits people began taking supplies from the missionaries. There were complaints that the natives were collecting and hiding supplies. Soon, bad feelings grew between the Mormons and the Seuvarits.
On September 3, 1855, a Seuvarits man named Charles shot one of the missionaries. Charles was the son of Chief St. John. In the weeks that followed, the Seuvarits in Grass Valley attacked settlements. They killed Mormon settlers. Charles led the Seuvarits to burn the missionaries' hay and corn. They also stopped water from reaching the fort. In October 1855, the missionaries decided to leave the Elk Mountain Mission. They went back to northern Utah.
Historical records from the 1850s said the Seuvarits people did not use horses. But later reports from the 1860s described them as having horses and being "well-armed."
Black Hawk War Involvement
The Seuvarits Utes were part of the Black Hawk War from 1865 to 1872. This war is different from the 1832 Black Hawk War. The Seuvarits were a strong group in Chief Antonga Black Hawk's raiding parties. Their friends during the war included Timpanogos and San Pitch raiders. Members of the Yampa and White River groups also joined them.
The relationship between Mormon settlers and Seuvarits Utes started peacefully. But problems grew when Black Hawk led Seuvarits and San Pitch raiders. They wanted to stop Mormon settlements from growing. These settlements were moving onto their western lands. The raiders attacked livestock, crops, and mills. They hoped to make the settlers leave by making them poor. On the other hand, Paiute groups often joined with white settlers. They saw the settlers as a way to get relief from Ute control over the area.
Decline in Population
By the 1870s, the Seuvarits population had decreased a lot. Wars and diseases brought by Mormon missionaries greatly affected them. They had not had much contact with white people before. Many Ute groups suffered from diseases like measles. The Seuvarits who survived joined with other Northern Ute groups. These included the Uncompahgre and the Weeminuche, as well as the Uintah Tribe. The remaining Seuvarits members now live on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in eastern Utah.
Seuvarits Geography
Traditional Lands
The Seuvarits Ute group traditionally lived in the area of present-day Grand County. This is in eastern Utah. Their lands were east and west of the La Sal Mountains. They lived along the Colorado River and the Green River. The Elk Mountain Mission was started in this area.
The Seuvarits also had lands in the Book Cliffs area. This is in western Colorado and eastern Utah. However, the Seuvarits usually avoided these lands. This was because they had few resources and the land was rough. Historically, the geography of their lands meant the Seuvarits did not need horses. Reports from the 1850s, during the Elk Mountain Mission, described them as not having horses. After meeting white settlers, the Seuvarits began to raise and use horses in their daily lives.
Moving to Reservations
The United States government, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, moved the remaining Seuvarits Ute group from their traditional lands. They were moved to reservations. Some Seuvarits refused to move. The main reservation they were moved to was the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. This reservation is in the Uintah Basin.
The Seuvarits were moved there with other Ute groups and tribes. These included the Timpanogos, Santaquin-Goshen, Moanunt, San Pitch, Koosharem, and Piede. Some Ute groups were almost wiped out by disease and war. Ute populations dropped by as much as 20%. The tribes and groups moved to the Uintah and Ouray Reservation were put together. The government called them the Uintah Utes. One sad effect of being moved to reservations was losing their traditional tribal language and customs. This happened as older tribal members passed away.
Important Seuvarits People
- Chief St. John: He was the Seuvarits chief during the Elk Mountain Mission.
- Charles: He was the son of Chief St. John. He played a key role in the conflict between the Seuvarits and Mormon settlers in 1855.
- Chu-ar Ru-um Peak: A Seuvarits chief.
- U-Wa: The wife of chief Chu-ar Ru-um Peak.
