At the wishes of the family, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe is sharing the obituary and service information for the late, Rita Elaine Newton. 

Obituary for Rita Elaine Newton

 

Southern Ute Indian Reservation – Rita Elaine Newton, passed on January 14, 2020. Elaine was a wife, mother, daughter, sister and grandmother, she was 62 years old.

Elaine was born on January 21, 1957 in Las Vegas, NV to Josephine and Jose R. Olguin.

Elaine is survived by her husband of 43 years, Jim R. Newton, Sr., granddaughter Maylon Newton, brothers James M. Olguin (Dee), Myron Olguin (Diane), and Roberta Lohrey all of Ignacio, CO.

Elaine is preceded in death by her father, Jose R. Olguin, and son, Chairman Jim R. Newton, Jr.

Elaine was a person with a huge heart filled with servitude, compassion, and encouragement to her family, friends, tribal membership and the greater community. She was loved by everyone and her impacts will be forever lasting on both a personal and professional level. On January 26, 1976 she married the love of her life, Jimmy R. Newton and together they welcomed their only child, Jim R. Newton, Jr. Elaine loved being a wife and a mother. The love and passion to serve her people helped shaped the same passions into her son who was elected to Tribal Council and Chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. She loved to travel with her husband and other family members. When her son, Jim, was on the powwow circuit, Elaine was known to travel right beside him.

During her years as Judge, her contributions were significant and many of the policies and programs that she created are still intact today. Judge Newton was passionate for traditional forms of justice which aimed to rehabilitate the individuals who came before her. Her sentences were non-traditional in the eyes of many courts, but she understood the unique backgrounds and needs to rehabilitate the entire community that she loved. Elaine spent 34 years in law enforcement and judicial services of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. In 1988, Elaine began her career with tribal court as a paralegal, she was then promoted to Associate Judge for four years and finally Chief Judge for 17 years. She also dedicated her time in Tribal Planning working on Economic Development, Tribal Services, and the Department of Natural Resources.

She enjoyed doing crafts, another passion she passed to her son. In the Spring and Summer months, her family and friends could often find her in her garden. She loved to grow flowers and grew traditional plants, such as tobacco. Elaine will be deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and the surrounding communities.

A rosary will be recited on Friday, January 17, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church. On Saturday, January 18, 2020 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the St Ignatius Catholic Church, a eulogy will be read, church services will begin at 10:00 a.m., with burial to follow at Ouray Cemetery.

A luncheon will begin at 12:00 p.m. at the Sky Ute Casino Resort, Event Center. The family welcomes everyone to attend.

Southern Ute Growth Fund hires one of their own as Vice President of Human Resources

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Shane Seibel, Executive Director – 970.563.5000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2020 – 08:20 A.M.

Southern Ute Indian Reservation –

The Southern Ute Growth Fund has hired Maria Baker, a Southern Ute Tribal Member, as the Vice President of Human Resources. She will assume the responsibilities as VP on Monday, January 6, 2020.

“I am excited for this opportunity. I appreciate the support I have received from the Directors and Tribal Council. I am going to build on the foundation I received while working for Cathy Otten, learning from her expertise for the past 14 years,” stated Baker.

Baker started her professional career with the Southern Ute Department of Education in 2001, training under Mr. Lee Briggs, and taking over responsibility as the Distance Learning Coordinator helping to bring degreed programs to the Southern Ute Tribal Members on the reservation. After working in education for four years, Baker received an unpassable opportunity within the Southern Ute Growth Fund, Human Resources as the Tribal Members Employment Coordinator. Her background with education proved to be helpful in transitioning Tribal Members into positions within the Southern Ute Growth Fund. She has spent 18 years with the Tribe and most recently as the HR Training Coordinator and Assistant HR Manager.

Baker received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Fort Lewis College in 2000.

As an avid outdoorsman, she currently sits on the Southern Ute Wildlife – Wildlife Advisory Board and in her downtime enjoys hunting and fishing. She also has sat on the KSUT Board of Directors, Del Alma Board of Directors, and the Durango Adult Education Board of Directors. Baker also enjoys spending time with family.

 

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20200106 – Southern Ute Growth Fund hires one of their own as Vice President of Human Resources

Southern Ute Indian Tribe Appoints New Director of Energy

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Christine Sage, Chairman – 970.563.0100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 6, 2020 – 11:05 A.M.

Southern Ute Indian Reservation – The Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council has appointed Mrs. Kourtney Hadrick as the new Director of Energy for the Southern Ute Growth Fund. She will begin on Monday, January 6, 2020.

Hadrick has over 22 years of technical and management experience in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. She has held various leadership roles with the Tribe’s energy businesses since 2012, most recently as the President/COO for both Red Cedar Gathering Company and Aka Energy, LLC. Prior to her employment with the Tribe, Hadrick was employed by BP America Production Company. Her experience with BP included engineering, operations, and multiple management positions for upstream and midstream assets located in Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, and Wyoming.

Hadrick holds her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and a Management Certificate from MIT Sloan Business School.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Energy Director for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. I am looking forward to working with the Tribal Council, the Directors, Growth Fund Management Committee and the organization in my new role. Together, we will ensure the Tribe is a strategic leader in safe, environmentally responsible, and efficient energy production; the value of the Tribe’s current energy portfolio is maximized; and the talent within the organization and the membership are developed to meet the current and future needs of the business,” stated Hadrick.

Hadrick has been married to Rob Hadrick for 17 years and they have three children: Will (15), Ellie (14), and Maddi (8). Away from the office, Hadrick enjoys spending time with her family, yoga, running, skiing, and mountain biking.

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20200103 – Southern Ute Indian Tribe Appoints New Director of Energy

Tribal Council Evaluating Status of the Southern Ute Detention Center

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Christine Sage, Chairman – 970.563.0100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 6, 2020 – 10:55 A.M.

Southern Ute Indian Reservation – On October 9, 2019, the Tribe announced the decision to close the Southern Ute Detention Center no later than December 31, 2019. Tribal Council has been committed to determining ways the Permanent Fund could operate in the most cost-effective manner.

Since that decision was made, Tribal Council reconsidered the determining factors, including new solutions to offset operational expenses. The Southern Ute Detention Center will remain open pending additional review.

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20191231 – Tribal Council Evaluating Status of Southern Ute Detention Center

Newly Elected Council Members Make First Female Majority on Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Christine Sage, Chairman – 970.563.0100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 16, 2019 – 10:30 A.M.

Southern Ute Indian Reservation – On Monday, December 16, 2019 the Southern Ute Election Board presented the certified results from the 2019 General Election. Ramona Y. Eagle received 161 votes and newcomer Marjorie Barry received 157 votes, both securing their seats on the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council. Unsuccessful candidates were James Mike Olguin (151) and Adam Red (135).

Council Member Elect Ramona Y. Eagle successfully earned the most votes to enter her fifth term on Tribal Council. Eagle previously served 11 years on Tribal Council and held positions as Treasurer and Vice Chairman. Eagle has worked in various departments throughout the Tribal organization and prior to retiring, she served as the Executive Officer under Chairman Clement J. Frost for 3 years.

Throughout her four terms on Tribal Council, she has advocated for Tribal Member employment, tribal sovereignty, and education.

Eagle holds her bachelor’s degree in human resources from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She is very strong in her traditional upbringing and actively participates in traditional ceremonies. She enjoys dancing and beading.

“I am very honored to be elected by my people and will do my best to advocate for the needs and overall well-being of the entire tribal membership. Education has always been a passion of mine and I want to ensure the tribal membership receive the best education whether it be at the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy or through programs at the Education Department,” shared Eagle.

Eagle has three daughters including the late Sadie Frost, six grandsons, and two granddaughters. She is the sister of Linda Eagle and daughter of the late Clifford & Annabelle Eagle.

Incoming Tribal Council Member Marjorie Barry tallied 157 votes. After working for both the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for over three decades, Barry brings a plethora is experience to her seat. She has also held positions on numerous Tribal committees such as Gaming Commission and the Higher Education Scholarship Program Committee.

Barry attended Fort Lewis College, majoring in American Indian Studies. Her education assisted in her position as Acting Culture Department Director. She recently dedicated 6 years as an employee within the Tribal Health Department.

“I would like to thank the Southern Ute people for allowing me the opportunity to take part in our government, to become a tribal representative,” stated Barry.

She has one son, Preston, and daughter, Amy, as well as 7 grandsons, 2 granddaughters and 3 great-granddaughters Barry enjoys beading and attending Native American functions.

“I would like to congratulate the newly elected Tribal Council Members, and I look forward to working with them both,” said Chairman Christine Sage.

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20191215 – Two Women Appointed to Southern Ute Tribal Council_

Minor’s Trust Early Cutoff Dates for 2020

Just a reminder that the normal cutoff for Minors/Birthday requests is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays with a Friday distribution date. Because of the holidays, early cut off dates for the rest of this year and next year are:

2019

Noon, Friday, December 20: distribution December 27th

Noon, Friday, December 27: distribution January 3rd

2020

Noon, Friday, May 22: distribution May 29th

Noon, Monday, June 29: distribution July 3rd

Noon, Friday, November 20: distribution November 25th

Noon, Friday, December 4: distribution December 9th

Noon, Monday, December 21: distribution December 24th

Noon, Monday, December 28: distribution December 31st

 

If you have any questions about a Minors/Birthday payment please contact Anne Flanigan, 970.563.2454. For regular distribution questions or concerns, please contact Barbara Prestel, 970.563.2260.

Please read the news release from the Office of the Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior.

 

Assistant Secretary Sweeney Names Johnna Blackhair as Deputy Bureau Director, Trust Services, and Patricia Mattingly as Southwest Regional Director

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney announced the appointment of two leadership posts within the Bureau of Indian Affairs: Johnna Blackhair, a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe in Montana, will serve as Deputy Bureau Director for Trust Services at the Bureau of Indian Affairs’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., and Patricia Mattingly, of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo in New Mexico and the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, will serve as Regional Director of the Bureau’s Southwest Regional Office in Albuquerque, N.M. The appointments were effective September 15 and 30, 2019, respectively.

“I am very excited to announce the appointment of two experienced managers to my senior BIA leadership team: Johnna Blackhair as Deputy Bureau Director of Trust Services, and Patricia Mattingly as Regional Director of the BIA’s Southwest Regional Office,” said Assistant Secretary Sweeney. “They bring deep experience to these high-level management posts, and will provide valuable assistance to me as we increase flexibility in the BIA’s operations and regulations to support tribal self-determination and economic self-sufficiency.”

The Department of Interior is committed to providing consistent and focused leadership in all of Indian Affairs, as well as to actively collaborate with the Department’s senior managers. Among the top priorities is to fill leadership positions with highly qualified managers who will provide continuity and expertise in trust management in accordance with its mission.

“I am extremely pleased that Johnna Blackhair and Patricia Mattingly have joined the BIA’s central office and field leadership corps,” said BIA Director Darryl LaCounte. “Their combined years of experience from working at the agency and regional office levels will prove invaluable as we work to make the BIA more responsive to Indian Country’s needs and priorities.”

Ms. Blackhair has 28 years of federal service starting in September 1991 with the BIA’s Uintah and Ouray Agency in Fort Duchene, UT. From April 2010, she gained extensive experience in the management of land titles and records, real estate services, probate, agriculture, and cadastral surveys, coordinating with the Bureau of Land Management as the Regional Realty Officer in the Southwest Regional Office. She has held a number of BIA field leadership positions including Mescalero Agency Superintendent (2011-2012); Uintah and Ouray Agency
Superintendent (2012-2013); Eastern Regional Office Deputy Regional Director (2013-2014);
and Eastern Regional Office Regional Director (2014-2015). Prior to her recent appointment,
Ms. Blackhair had served as BIA Trust Services’s acting Associate Deputy Bureau Director
since January 2018, and as acting Deputy Bureau Director since April 2018.

“I deeply appreciate the confidence placed in me to lead BIA Trust Services, whose mission is a
basic component of the Federal trust responsibility to the tribes and allottees with trust lands and resources,” Deputy Bureau Director for Trust Services Johnna Blackhair said. “I am very
grateful to the Assistant Secretary and Director LaCounte for this new opportunity to serve
Indian Country. I will do my utmost to see that we in OTS carry out our mission to the best of
our ability.”

The BIA Office of Trust Services is primarily located in Washington, D.C. and Albuquerque,
N.M., and assists tribal governments and allottees in managing, protecting and developing their trust lands and natural resources, which total 56 million surface acres and 60 million acres of subsurface mineral estates. Trust Services programs aid landowners in the stewardship of their resources not only to protect their cultural, spiritual and traditional uses, but in optimizing those which tribal governments depend on through the revenues and jobs they generate.

Patricia Mattingly began her federal career with the Department in 2003 in Albuquerque, N.M.,
as an Attorney Advisor in the Solicitor’s Office. She joined the BIA’s Southwest Regional
Office as Regional Legal Administrative Specialist, then later moved to the BIA’s Western
Regional Office in Phoenix, A.Z., as Associate Director of the Division of Probate and Estate
Services. She eventually returned to the Southwest Regional Office as a Tribal Government
Officer, and where she was later promoted to the post of Deputy Regional Director for Indian
Services. Ms. Mattingly holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of
New Mexico, and a Juris Doctorate from the UNM School of Law.

“I thank the Assistant Secretary and Director LaCounte for this opportunity to lead the Southwest Regional Office,” Regional Director Patricia Mattingly said. “I am committed to improving the level of regional office responsiveness to the needs of the tribal nations we serve, while also supporting their self-determination and economic development goals.”

The BIA Southwest Regional Office is located in Albuquerque, N.M., and oversees nine
agencies serving the 25 federally recognized tribes in Colorado and New Mexico and the Ysleta
del Sur Pueblo in El Paso, Texas.

As the oldest bureau in the U.S. Department of the Interior, established in 1824, the BIA is
within the Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, along with the Bureau of Indian
Education. The BIA provides services (directly or through contracts, grants, or compacts) to
approximately 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. With just under 5,000

employees, the BIA carries out its core mission for 573 federally recognized American Indian
tribes and Alaska Natives in the U.S. through four offices:

•Office of Indian Services: operates BIA’s general assistance, disaster relief, Indian child
welfare, tribal government, Indian Self-Determination, and reservation roads programs;
•Office of Justice Services: operates or funds law enforcement, tribal courts, and detention facilities on Federal Indian lands;
•Office of Trust Services: works directly with tribes and individual American Indians and Alaska Natives in the management of their trust lands, assets, and resources; and Office of Field Operations: oversees 12 regional offices and 83 agencies which carry out the BIA mission at the tribal level.

Visit BIA.gov for more information.

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