Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation facts for kids
| Núuchi-u | |
|---|---|
Uintah Ute couple, northwestern Utah, 1874
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| Total population | |
| 2,647 (1990) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Utah) |
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| Languages | |
| English, Ute language | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Sun Dance, Native American Church, traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Ute Tribes |
The Ute Indian Tribe of the Uinta and Ouray Reservation is a recognized Native American tribe in northeastern Utah, United States. This tribe is made up of three main groups: the Whiteriver Band, the Uncompahgre Band, and the Uintah Band. More than three thousand people are members of the Ute Indian Tribe. Over half of them live on the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation.
The Ute Indian Tribe has its own government. It manages about 1.3 million acres of land. This land holds important oil and gas resources.
Contents
Who are the Ute People?
The Northern Ute tribe moved to the Uintah Ouray Reservation a long time ago. This tribe is made up of several smaller groups. These groups include:
- The Uintah tribe: This group is now larger than it used to be. The U.S. government grouped several bands together as Uintah when they moved to the reservation.
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- The San Pitch Utes lived in central Utah. They lived in the Sanpete Valley and along the San Pitch River.
- The original Uintah lived in northeastern Utah. Their land stretched from Utah Lake to the Uintah Basin.
- The Timpanogos lived near Mount Timpanogos. They also lived around Utah Lake and in the Uinta Basin.
- The Seuvarits band came from the Moab area.
- The White River Utes:
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- The Yampa lived in the Yampa River Valley. The Parianuche lived in western Colorado and eastern Utah. These two groups are now called the White River Utes.
- The Tabeguache, also known as the Uncompahgre, lived in Colorado and Utah. They lived in the Gunnison and Uncompahgre River valleys.
A Look at Ute History
Ute people have lived in the Great Basin area for over 10,000 years. They were one of the first tribes to get horses. They got these horses from Spanish horses that had escaped.
Early Encounters and Land Changes
Spanish explorers traveled through Ute lands in 1776. More and more non-Native people followed them. The Colorado Gold Rush in the 1850s brought many gold seekers to Ute lands. Mormons also fought with the Utes from the 1840s to the 1870s.
In the 1860s, the U.S. government created the Uintah Reservation. In May 1864, a law was passed. This law allowed the government to sell Indian lands in Utah. It also allowed them to move the Utes to the Uinta Valley. The land that was sold was in small pieces. The government also set aside money to help the Utes who moved to the Uinta Valley. Utah Utes moved there in 1864. Eight groups of Northern Utes joined them in 1882.
How Did Ute Land Shrink?
As the United States grew, it made agreements and orders about Native land. The Uintah Ute Executive Order was an important document. It outlined agreements for the Ouray Reservation. This order led to the creation of Fort Duchesne, a military base.
The U.S. government said this base would be good for both sides. However, the Uintah Tribe did not want a military base. This base reduced their freedom and control over their land. The military presence made it easier for the U.S. to control the Uintah people. This military base greatly reduced the size of the Ute's land.
Challenges and Settlements
The U.S. government tried to make the Utes farm. But there was not enough water on their reservation. Also, the land was not good for growing crops. In the early 1900s, water projects gave water to non-tribal people.
Ute children were also forced to go to American Indian boarding schools. These schools tried to make Native children live like non-Native children. Many Ute children suffered at these schools.
In 1965, the Northern Ute Tribe agreed to let the U.S. government use some of their water. This water was for a project called the Central Utah Project. In return, the government promised to build water storage facilities for the Tribe. By 1992, these facilities were not built. To make up for this, the Ute Indian Rights Settlement was created. Under this settlement, the Tribe received money for farming, recreation, and economic growth. This money helps the Ute people develop their community.
The Ute Reservation Today
The Uinta and Ouray Indian Reservation is very large. It covers over 4,500,000 acres (18,000 km2) of land. However, the Tribe only owns about 1.2 million acres of surface land. They also own 40,000 acres (160 km2) of mineral land. The reservation was started in 1861. It is located in several counties in Utah.
Raising animals and leasing oil and gas land are important ways the reservation makes money. The Tribe is part of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes. This group helps tribes manage their energy resources. The Tribe also has a small share in a planned railway project.
Language and Traditions
The Ute language is part of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Many Ute people still speak their language. In 1984, the tribe made Ute the official language of their reservation. The Ute Language, Culture and Traditions Committee helps teach the language. They also provide learning materials.
The Uintah Ute people have two important annual dances. These are the summer Sun Dance and the spring Bear Dance. These dances are very special to their tribe. The Bear Dance is still a social event. It helps Native people feel closer to each other.
Images for kids
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Uintah Ute couple, northwestern Utah, 1874
