Community Culture Press Releases Tribal Members Ignacio School District offers Native American Parents District Survey September 27, 2023 / October 2, 2023 by abarry All Native American parents please participate in this survey to better our school and programs! Fill out a survey for each child you have in the district. Please submit your survey via the links below by October 1, 2023. Ignacio Early Learning Program Ignacio Elementary School Ignacio Middle School Ignacio High School Read more »
Administration Community Health Press Releases Tribal Members Southern Ute Air Quality Alert – Smoke Particulate Matter – Very Unheathly September 27, 2023 / October 2, 2023 by abarry The Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Environmental Programs Division operates three air quality stations on the Reservation and maintains a website that provides real-time air pollutant and EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) health alerts from data collected at these stations. Smoke from wildfires can cause unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter (PM) in the air. Particulate matter is continuously measured at the Ute 3 monitoring station near Bondad Hill and the Ute 1 monitoring station in Ignacio. As of Friday 9/29/2023, 7:30am, the Ute 1 station is currently reading high PM concentrations with a corresponding AQI of Hazardous. Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children are the groups most at risk. To view the ambient monitoring program website, and for more information about how to understand the AQI forecast, follow the links below: Southern Ute Indian Tribe Ambient Monitoring Program Website EPA Air Quality Index Information Website Wildfire Smoke Resources to Protect Your Health | US EPA EPA Air Now Article – How Smoke From Fires Can Affect Your Health FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT EPD, Air […] Read more »
Administration Community Health Press Releases Tribal Members For Immediate Release: Biden Administration Initiative Allocates Vital Resources to Address Legacy Pollution September 22, 2023 by abarry FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Melvin J. Baker, Chairman – 970.563.2320 Summer Begay, Communication Specialist– 970.563.2313 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 22, 2023 Biden Administration Initiative Allocates Vital Resources to Address Legacy Pollution Southern Ute Indian Reservation – The Department of the Interior has announced an initial allocation of nearly $40 million as part of President Biden’s “Investing in America” initiative. This substantial funding represents the first phase of a comprehensive effort to support Tribal communities in addressing abandoned oil and gas wells across Indian Country. The primary goals of this investment include advocating for Tribal land rights, promoting economic opportunities, addressing legacy pollution, and mitigating environmental hazards. The Southern Ute Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the Tribe’s Contracts and Grants Department, applied for a grant under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Section 40601 Orphaned Well Program from the Department of Interior. Their grant application was specifically tailored to secure funds for conducting technical and field investigations into legacy plugged and abandoned wells, ensuring their integrity and long-term environmental protection. Andy Wetherell, Energy Manager at the Southern Ute Department of Energy, said, “the team is appreciative of Tribal Council’s support and the collaboration with the Tribe’s Contracts and Grants Department […] Read more »
Administration Community Health Press Releases Tribal Members 2023 Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Health Fair September 21, 2023 / September 21, 2023 by abarry This year’s Southern Ute Health Fair is quickly approaching, and Southern Ute Health Services Division would love to see you participate in this event. Please find the event flyer as well as the vendor form attached below. Vendor admission is FREE, but we ask that you provide a raffle prize for contribution toward this event. Paperwork is due back to me no later than Friday, October 20th, 2023. Thank you for your interest in participation and we look forward to seeing many friendly faces there! Toghoyaqh, Alyssa Seibel Admin Assistant I Community & Home Health Services Office: 970-563-2348 Cell: 970-553-0118 Read more »
Administration Community Culture Elections Press Releases Tribal Members 2023 Southern Ute General Election – November 3, 2023 September 21, 2023 by abarry The Southern Ute Election Board would like to share the Southern Ute General Election notice for November 3, 2023. Please contact the Southern Ute Election Board with any questions at (970) 563-2303 or Election@southernute-nsn.gov Read more »
Press Releases FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund Announces Kava Equity Partners and New Hires August 30, 2023 by qlansing For Immediate Release August 30, 2023 Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund Announces Kava Equity Partners and New Hires Kava Equity Partners is the Direct Private Equity Investment Group of the Southern Ute Growth Fund Southern Ute Indian Reservation, August 30, 2023 – The Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund (“Growth Fund”), the business arm of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, announced today its newest business subsidiary, Kava Equity Partners, LLC (“Kava Equity Partners”). Kava Equity Partners will grow and diversify the Tribe’s investments by seeking majority and minority, private equity investments in lower middle market companies that see business value in partnering with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and are aligned with the Tribe’s cultural, environmental, and economic values. Growth Fund Executive Director, Mr. Shane Seibel, said, “We are excited to see the investment opportunities generated by Kava Equity Partners that will grow and diversify our portfolio.” Kava (pronounced “Kah-VAH”) is the Ute word for horse, which has historically been of great importance and profound significance to the Tribe. The horse allowed the Tribe to explore new territory and expand or grow resources for the membership and represents the values of partnership, reliability, and independence critical to the Tribe’s […] Read more »
Community Press Releases La Plata County Stage 1 Fire Restrictions July 10, 2023 / August 14, 2023 by qlansing Read more »
Community Press Releases PSA Tribal Broadband Modernization Project: Phase II Construction Update & Traffic Impacts September 23, 2022 / February 6, 2024 by Web Admin FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Melvin J. Baker, Chairman – 970-563-2320 Summer Begay, Communication Specialist – 970-563-2313 FOR RELEASE: February 05, 2024 Tribal Broadband Modernization Project: Phase II Construction Update & Traffic Impacts Project News: Phase II is underway and construction has begun to connect fiber to homes! Where: Crews will be working within the Ignacio town limits, CR-517 near the Sky Ute Casino and Ute Rd. Construction will take place along the edge of the roadways/alleyways. Please see maps below with construction zones indicated in red: What: The broadband project will include trenching, boring, and plowing to lay fiber, as well as reclamation and seeding. Construction vehicles and fiber spools will be visible on the shoulder. When: Construction is ongoing. Hours of operation will be from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Travel Impact: Parking lanes, sidewalks and alleyways may be temporarily closed during operations. Motorists will be required to reduce speeds and travel safely around the construction taking place on the side of the road. Please remember to slow down in construction zones, eliminate distractions, and drive with extra caution. Motorists are also urged to watch for workers and equipment along the roadway. In the event of an emergency or […] Read more »
Press Releases Tribal Members FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Southern Ute Tribal Council Reaffirms Significance of Tribal Sovereignty July 22, 2022 / August 22, 2022 by Lindsay Box FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Melvin J. Baker, Chairman – 970.563.0100 Lindsay Box – 970.563.2313 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2022 Southern Ute Tribal Council Reaffirms Significance of Tribal Sovereignty Southern Ute Indian Reservation – The Southern Ute Tribal Council shares their approved Statement on Sovereignty via Resolution No. 2022-126. The Tribal Council’s Statement on Sovereignty arises out of recent events that are an affront to the sovereignty of all tribes in the United States. The Supreme Court ruling on Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta undermines the true definition of sovereignty, and restrains Tribes’ ability to govern themselves, and ultimately protect tribal members and resources. This is the most significant threat to Tribal sovereignty in many years. Tribal Council believes the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Statement on Sovereignty illustrates the tribe’s position on this threat to tribal sovereignty and governance. “The Statement on Sovereignty reasserts the foundation for which the Tribe operates and governs itself. The Tribe will continue to fight to protect its inherent sovereignty which our past Ute leaders fought to preserve through treaties and declared by federal law in exchange for the land stolen and the attempted eradication of our Ute culture and language.” stated Chairman Melvin J. Baker. The Tribal Council’s Statement on […] Read more »
Press Releases Southern Ute Reservation Initiates Stage I Fire Restrictions June 14, 2021 / July 14, 2021 by Web Admin NEWS RELEASE SOUTHERN UTE RESERVATION INITIATES STAGE I FIRE RESTRICTIONS Ignacio, CO, June 14, 2021 Due to the current high temperatures, dry fuel conditions and the occurrence of recent wildland fires, Stage I fire restrictions have been implemented for all trust lands throughout the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Everyone on reservation land is asked to be very cautious and use common sense with fire this time of year. Stage I Fire Restrictions prohibits acts for the general public, commercial operators and industrial oil and gas operators performing work on the Southern Ute Reservation. The following acts are prohibited for the general public on reservation lands: OPEN BURNING. Burning of trash and/or yard waste is prohibited. AGRICULTURAL BURNING. Burning of crop land, fields, rangeland, debris burning, slash piles, prescribed burning and weed burning are prohibited. CAMP FIRES. Building, maintaining or using a warming fire or campfire outside of officially designated or developed camp sites is prohibited. The fire restrictions do not include charcoal fires (in suitable containers) for barbeques or fires for sweat ceremonies, however, such fires are not to be left unattended and are to be fully extinguished after use. Possession, discharging or use of any type of fireworks is […] Read more »
