The Ute Indian nation said it is considering purchasing some 18,000 acres of ancestral homeland in north-central Colorado valued at $14.5 million.
Tribal council member Roland McCook said the land, high ranch country at elevations between 8,000 and 10,000 feet, is the former territory of the White River Band of the Utes and contains a religious and burial site."It would sure be nice to get some of this land back," said McCook.
The Ute nation once encompassed much of western Colorado, and the tribe ranged from southern Wyoming to New Mexico and west into Utah. The land in question is just off of U.S. 40 and about 26 miles southeast of Steamboat Springs, Colo. The property was formerly called the Peak Ranch and is owned by the University of Denver.
McCook said the tribe is a long way from reaching a consensus on whether or not to buy the property, although council members have visited the site.
"The final kicker will be coming up with financing," he said.
Larry Cesspooch, public relations spokesman for the Utes, said the tribe is considering numerous uses for the property, including establishing a gambling venue. Although that idea remains a far-off possibility, he said he believes the tribe would be within its legal rights.
"I contend we are a sovereign nation and I contend we can and should do as we please," he said.
McCook said the tribe is not primarily interested in the ranch as a place to build a gambling operation. Other ideas for the property would be the establishment of a winter sports area or summer dude ranch. Most likely, however, he said the land would be used for grazing.
"We've about exhausted our resources here (in Utah) for expansion of our cattle enterprise," he said.
According to historian Dee Brown in the book, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," the tribe relinquished its rights in 1863 to territory east of the continental divide in Colorado for "ten thousand dollars worth of goods and ten thousand dollars worth of provisions to be distributed annually for ten years." They also gave up mineral rights to all parts of their lands.
In 1868, the Utes, led by Ouray the Arrow, were cajoled into giving up still more land until they were left with 16 million acres in southwestern Colorado. The government agreed to keep miners off the remaining Ute lands but promptly ignored those provisions. In 1873, mine operators pressured the government to again take more land from the Utes. The tribe conceded, giving up 4 million acres of prime mineral lands for $25,000 a year.
Unsuccessful attempts to force the Utes to become farmers and campaigns by various segments of Colorado society to stir up anti-Ute sentiment eventually led to armed confrontation between Indian agents and the Utes. The army intervened, and following the confrontation, the Utes were forced onto their present lands, mostly in eastern Utah.