UTE INDIANS

THEY WERE DIVIDED INTO SEVEN NOMADIC AND FOREST DWELLING TRIBES. THEY LIVED ON A VAST TERRITORY OF LAND IN COLORADO. THEY LIVED IN BARK COVERED TEEPEES. THEY MADE CLOTHING FROM DEERSKIN AND RABBITS. THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WERE BASED ON NATURE WITH ANIMALS AS DEITIES. UTE SHAMANS WERE POWERFUL. THEY PRACTICED IN SUMMER THE SUNDANCE - IT WAS SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS. THEY DID NOT OVER USE THEIR RESOURCE BASE. THE MORMONS INTRODUCED THEM TO AGRICULTURE AND HORSES. THEY BEGAN RAISING THEM AND HUNTING BUFFALO. THE NORTHERN UTE IN COLORADO DID NOT CHANGE THEIR LIFESTYLE. A UTE CHIEF, OURAY, WENT TO WASHINGTON WITH HIS WIFE AND SUCCESSFULLY ARRANGED A TREATY BETWEEN HIS PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT. THERE ARE ABOUT 35,000 UTES ON A RESERVATION IN UTAH AND THEY OWN 3 MILLION ACRES AND OPERATE THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT AND PROMOTE THEIR HERITAGE. THEIR POWWOWS ARE AT FT DUCHESNE. THE CHILDREN ENJOY FOOT RACES. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN DID MEDICINE DID MEDICINE WORK, ARTWORK, AND STORY TELLING. THEY MADE BUCKSKIN CLOTHING AND MOCCASINS. THEY BUILT RAFT TO TRAVEL ON RIVERS. THEY BASKETS AND POTTERY. UTEINDIAN.COM