SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah and the Ute Indian Tribe have renewed their agreement to let the sports teams at the university use the Ute name.
As part of the five-year memorandum of understanding, the school will continue to support Ute Indian and other federally recognized American Indian students that attend the university, provide financial support to the Ute Tribe, promote campus events to raise awareness about American Indian Culture, and continue to have an annual “Ute Proud” game.
“The Ute Indian Tribe is pleased to continue its partnership with the University of Utah,” Luke Duncan, chairman of the Ute Indian Tribal Business Committee said in a press release. “This agreement renews our shared commitment to building genuine respect and understanding of our tribe’s history, as well as our goal to support our youth in pursuing their education.”
The university will also educate new students about the Ute Indian Tribe at the school’s first-year orientation program.
“We are honored to continue using the Ute name and we acknowledge the special responsibility our athletes and fans bear to the Ute Indian Tribe,” Mark Harlan, University of Utah athletics director, said in a press release. “Ute history is Utah history. We look forward to carrying the name forward with understanding and respect toward our state’s namesake people.”
You can read the entire memorandum of understanding here.