Origin of the Name

The name “Ute” comes from the Spanish word Yuta, which may have derived from an Apache term meaning “high up” or “people who live high.” The Ute people call themselves Núuchiu or Núu, meaning “the people.”

Range

The Ute traditionally lived across the central and southern Rocky Mountains, including present-day Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, eastern Nevada, northern Arizona, and northern New Mexico. Their territory included mountain valleys, high plateaus, and desert basins, giving them access to diverse ecosystems.

Ute Family (1899)

Diet

The Ute diet was shaped by the environment and changed after they acquired horses in the 1600s. Traditionally, they hunted deer, elk, bison, rabbits, and other game. They also gathered nuts, berries, roots, and seeds. Fish from mountain rivers supplemented their meals. After contact with Europeans, they traded for corn, beans, and European goods. With horses, bison hunting on the plains became a major food source until herds declined in the 19th century.

Home Type

The Ute lived in brush shelters, wickiups (dome-shaped huts made from branches and brush), and, after acquiring horses, tipis. Tipis became more common because they were portable and fit the nomadic lifestyle of horse-mounted buffalo hunters.

Depiction of Ute Wickiups

Culture

The Ute culture blended mountain traditions with Plains influences. They were skilled hunters, horse riders, and traders. Their culture included:

• Language: The Ute language is part of the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan family.
• Clothing: Traditionally, men wore breechcloths and leggings, while women wore deerskin dresses decorated with beads, shells, and porcupine quills. In winter, robes and moccasins provided warmth.
• Religion and Spirituality: The Ute believed in a spiritual world filled with powerful beings. The Bear Dance, one of their oldest ceremonies, celebrated renewal and fertility each spring. The Sun Dance, adopted later from Plains tribes, focused on sacrifice and spiritual strength.
• Art and Music: The Ute made cradleboards, baskets, beadwork, and painted designs. Music included drums, rattles, and flutes. Songs were used for ceremonies, healing, and storytelling.

Ute Warrior and Girl (1873)

Myths and Stories

The Origin of the Bear Dance: According to Ute tradition, a hunter once wandered into the mountains at the end of winter. He saw a bear standing upright, moving back and forth while scratching a tree and humming a deep rhythm. The bear spoke to the hunter, telling him to take this dance back to his people so they could remember the harmony between humans and animals, and to celebrate the renewal of life after the cold months. The hunter returned and taught his people the Bear Dance, which has been held each spring ever since. The dance not only honors bears but also renews relationships, encourages courtship, and brings strength for the year ahead.

Coyote the Trickster: In Ute stories, Coyote is a trickster who often gets himself into trouble while teaching important lessons. One story tells of Coyote boasting that he could make the sun rise earlier than anyone else. He shouted to the sun and bragged, but when he looked again, the sun had not moved. Embarrassed, he tried harder, running to the east to pull it up himself. Instead, he grew tired and hungry, proving that arrogance leads to failure. Such tales remind listeners of the dangers of pride and foolishness while also providing humor.

Warfare

Before acquiring horses, the Ute fought with bows, clubs, and spears, often defending hunting grounds. After horses spread into their culture, they became formidable warriors on horseback. They raided neighboring tribes, such as the Apache and Navajo, and later clashed with European settlers and the U.S. military. Firearms and horses enhanced their military power in the 1700s and 1800s.

History Timeline

• Pre-1600s: The Ute lived in the Rockies, hunting and gathering.
• 1600s: Acquired horses from the Spanish, becoming mobile buffalo hunters and warriors.
• 1700s: Expanded influence across the Great Basin and Plains through trade and raids.
• 1800s: Increasing conflict with settlers and U.S. forces. In 1879, the Meeker Incident (Ute uprising) occurred after attempts to force farming on them. This led to violent clashes and the forced removal of many Utes to reservations.
• Late 1800s: Ute tribes confined to reservations in Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico.
• 1900s: The Utes worked to preserve their language, traditions, and sovereignty while facing pressures of assimilation.
• Today: The Ute Nation consists of three main federally recognized tribes: the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe (both in Colorado), and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah. They continue to maintain cultural traditions while engaging in modern governance, business, and education.

Discussion Questions

1. How does the Bear Dance reflect the Ute relationship with the natural world?
2. What lessons are taught in Coyote stories, and why might humor be an effective teaching tool?
3. In what ways did the Ute adapt their lifestyle after the introduction of horses?
4. Why is it important for the Ute to continue passing down ceremonies and stories today?