History Colorado

We Are Still Here-Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

The Ute people have oral traditions going back thousands of years—that explain that their origin was possibly right here in Colorado. 

Ute Creation Story and Origins

By the 1880s, the white settlers had caused the Ute bands to separate and live on three reservations. 

Reservation Life

Explore information about the Ute Bear Dance.

We Are Still Here-Bear Dance

Draw and label where the 3 Ute tribes are located.

Many Bands, One People: Ute Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Southern Ute Tribe

The government established two boarding schools for Ute children, including one at Ignacio in 1902 and one at Towaoc in 1906.

Reservation Life-Boarding Schools

Ute Timeline after European Contact

The Ute Indian Tribe lives on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Fort Duschesne, Utah. It is the second largest Indian reservation in the U.S., and covers over 4.5 million acres. The tribe oversees 1.3 million acres of land. The tribe’s membership is 3,022 people. Over half of the membership lives on the Reservation. The Ute Indian Tribe are descendants of the Tabeguache, Yamparica, Parianuche, Uintah, Cumumba, Tupanawach, San Pitch, Pah Vant and Sheberetch bands.

We Are Still Here-Uintah and Ouray Reservation

Horses were important for trade. Ute bands were connected to each other through a trade network that stretched to the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Southwest, the Great Basin, and the plains.

Hides for Horses

Each of the three Ute tribes has its own seal with images and icons that are important to the Tribes. The government of each tribe is elected by the members of the tribe.

We Are Still Here-Government

Ute people are the longest continuous residents of Colorado and are still here today. Explore the history of the Ute people-CO's oldest inhabitants.

Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation

Utah American Indians: Curriculum and Digital Archive    

Ute Indian Tribe - Uintah & Ouray Reservation

Ute Tribal Paths

Engineering and Technology

Science

Civics and Government

Social Studies

U.S. History

Photograph, Ute men at Ignacio, Colo.

Photograph of eight Ute men in traditional dress on horseback in front of a frame building on the Consolidate Ute Indian Agency. The photograph was taken on May 24, 1925, the day of the reburial of Chief Ouray at the agency, and the men were the pallbearers at the burial. The men are identified on the verso of the photograph as, left to right, Nanees (George Norris), Joseph Prince, Buckskin Charlie (Charley), McCook, Pevaga, Pegary, and Antonio Buck.

Among the items of traditional clothing they were are feather headdresses, hair pipe chokers and breast plates, a squash blossom necklace, medals, a staff, and rings. The sign on the building behind them reads: "Consolidated Ute Indian Agency." Two Euro-American women stand behind them on the porch of the building. 

Inscription: Typed on verso: "Taken at Ignacio, Colorado, May 24, 1925, day of re-burial of Chief Ouray. Left to right: Nanees, Joseph Price, Colorow, Buckskin Charley, McCook, Pevaga, Pegary, Antonio Buck." Stamped on verso: "The Denver and Rio Grande Western R.R. Photograph by George L. Beam, Denver, Colo."

Photograph, Ute men at Ignacio, Colo.

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Ute Tribal Paths