Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

MISSION STATEMENT OF UTE MOUNTAIN UTE TRIBE The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe strives to uphold the Tribal Ancestral Vision and Leadership in order to preserve and protect our lands, Tribal sovereignty, language, history, culture and the general welfare of the NUCHU; Serves to provide for the long term economic needs of the Tribe and its members through economic development of Tribal Resources; Enhance the quality of life; Promotes strong work ethic and personal independence for NUCHU, while strongly upholding the "government to government" relationship with local, State and Federal governments that benefits the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe are the Weenuche band of the Ute Nation of Indians. The two other bands, the Mouache and the Capote became the Southern Ute Tribe. The Northern Ute Bands (the Uncompahgre band, the Grand River band, the Yampa band, and the Uinta band) are located on the Uinta ­ Ouray Reservation near Vernal, Utah.

The Ute Indians are distinguished by the Ute language, which is Shoshonean, a branch of the UtoAztecan linguistic stock (Garcia and Tripp, 1977). Other Indians in the United States that speak Shoshonean are the Paiute, Goshute, Shoshone, and several California Tribes.

Currently we are populated at a litle over 2,000 members and has remained that since.

Weenuche Lands The Weenuche Band inhabited the land along the western flank of the Rocky Mountains in the area of the present states of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Weenuche homelands included all the lands that they normally protected and regularly traveled through. Weenuche lands extended north of the San Juan River in what is now New Mexico and Utah to the San Miguel River in Colorado and the La Sal Mountains in Utah (Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, 1985). The Continental Divide bounded their eastern range, and the Abajo Mountains in Utah marked their western boundary. These lines were vague in definite limits and bands of Utes and other tribes shared border areas. Ancestors ofthe Allen Canyon White Mesa Utes and Paiutes lived in the western part of Weenuche territory in what is now eastern Utah and Arizona.

Tribal Goverment Six years after the Indians Reorganization Act of 1934, the Weenuche Band at Ute Mountain Ute Reservation organized a tribal government and enacted a tribal constitution (Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, 1985). The Weenuche Band became the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

The governing body of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is the Tribal Council consisting of seven members. The Council is elected by popular vote of Tribal membership. The Chairman of the Tribal council is selected through popular vote for a three year term. The Council governs the Reservation and manages a tribal government.

Most of the administrative positions are staffed by Tribal employees.

Funds to run the Tribal government are provided by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and by contractual agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services, and Indian Health Services. The Tribe is structured as a Federal Corporation that may be used for business purposes in developing financial growth and Tribal economy.

Economic Development

Economic Development responsibilities include economic development initiatives from within the Reservation and from national and international enterprises interested in developing sustainable business relationships with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. To this end the Division may serve as the lead funding development agency for Economic Development projects.

The Division oversees Tribal Enterprises which include: The Ute Mountain Ute Casino and Resort, Weeminuche Construction Authority, The Ute Mountain Ute Farm & Ranch , The Ute Mountain Ute Pottery /Gallery, The Ute Mountain Ute Travel Plaza.

There is an old legend that a Ute Chief once stood in the San Juan Mountains and said, "From where I stand, all the land this water touches belongs to the Ute people."

Natural Resources

Natural resource management is a discipline in the management of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations.

Many of the programs that are included in this area are Resource Program, Environmental Programs, Cultural Preservation T.H.P.O, Wildlife Program, Energy Program, & Tribal parks.

These programs offer services dealing with nature and preservation of our lands.

The Culture and Language Department is to improve our Language to all ages, and our Culture. For next one to five years as it moves toward it's vision. It will strengthen the culture identity and awareness of the Ute Mountain Adult population.