For the first time in 125 years, three Ute tribes will meet thisweek in Glenwood Springs, Colo., to discuss common issues and celebrate their reunion with a powwow.
Members of the two Colorado tribes - the Southern Utes from Ignacio and the Ute Mountain Utes from Towaoc - and the Northern Ute or Uintah Ouray tribe from Fort Duchesne, Utah, will gather in the Roaring Fork Valley, part of the region where they lived until 1868.The Ute Nation included Colorado and parts of six adjacent states. As white settlers moved west, the Ute nation, with seven bands, was divided into three on separate reservations.
"The tribes have gotten together before, but other tribes have been present," said Kenny Frost, a Southern Ute who is liaison between the tribes and the U.S. Forest Service, sponsor of the gathering. "So this is the first reuniting of Ute tribal leadership since we were kicked out of the Western Slope of Colorado."
Three events are planned as part of what is now called "Ute Awareness Week." As many as 100 tribal officials, including religious leaders, will meet in closed sessions Monday through Wednesday. They also will visit sacred sites in the Roaring Fork Valley.
"It's a summit meeting like three countries coming together," said Eugene Naranjo, Southern Ute coordinator for the conference.
The second event will be the Native American Awareness Workshop Thursday and Friday, with discussions scheduled on such topics as "Spirituality of the Utes." The public is invited to the third event, the United Ute Powwow, Friday and Saturday at the Glenwood Springs Middle School.