White River Utes facts for kids
The White River Utes are a Native American group formed from two older bands: the Yampa and the Parianuche. The Yampa lived near the Yampa River Valley, and the Parianuche lived along the Grand Valley in Colorado and Utah. Today, many White River Utes live on the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in Utah.
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Meet the White River Utes' Ancestors
The Yampa People
The Yampa (also known as Yapudttka or Yamparika) lived in the area around the Yampa River Valley. This was in what is now Colorado, north of the White River. They lived close to the Parianuche people, who were to their south. The Yampa were sometimes called "root eaters" because of the plants they gathered for food. This group was later moved to the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation.
The Parianuche People
The Parianuche (also called Pahdteeahnooch or Parianuc) lived in the Colorado River valley. This area is known as the Grand Valley in western Colorado and eastern Utah. They were known as "elk people" or Grand River Utes. Like the Yampa, the Parianuche tribe was also relocated to the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation.
The Meeker Conflict
In 1879, the White River Utes faced pressure to change their way of life. They were traditionally hunter-gatherers, meaning they hunted animals and gathered plants for food. However, a government agent named Nathan Meeker wanted them to become farmers.
Meeker tried to force these changes in several ways. He destroyed some of the Utes' ponies and caused them to face hunger. He also called for the military to come to the area. The Utes defended themselves against the soldiers and Agent Meeker. In two separate fights, Agent Meeker and U.S. Army Commander Thomas Thornburgh were killed. Other Utes and white settlers also died in these events, which became known as the Meeker Massacre and the Thornburgh ambush.
Because of these conflicts, the White River Utes were eventually moved. They were relocated to the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in Utah.
New Homes in South Dakota
A small group of White River Utes moved to a new home in South Dakota in 1906 and 1907. They were resettled on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. This land included about 92,160 acres. This area is still part of the former northern section of the Cheyenne River Reservation. Their communities there are named Iron Lightning and Thunder Butte.
