Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Mission

The mission of the Cultural Preservation Department is to revitalize, promote, sustain and document the culture, language, and history in a manner that honors the past generations, ensures a healthy and balanced tribal community, utilizes the advice and knowledge of the elders, and educates the general public in a manner that serves tribal interests.

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Tribal Historic Preservation Office

The Tribal Historic Preservation Officer completes the following functions: direct and conduct a comprehensive survey and maintain an inventory of historic and culturally significant properties on Tribal lands, identify and nominate eligible properties to the National Register of Historic Places and otherwise administer applications for listing historic properties on the National Register, develop and implement a comprehensive, historic preservation plan covering historic, archeological, and traditional cultural properties on Tribal lands, and advise and assist (where appropriate) Federal and State agencies and local governments in carrying out review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA). In addition, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer collaborates with other Cultural Preservation Department staff on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) studies, reviewing projects throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Kansas that may impact Ute cultural resources, and consulting with external entities to ensure the Ute history and perspective are accurately represented.

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

Enacted in 1990, NAGPRA requires museums and federal agencies that receive federal funds to consult with Tribes to identify and repatriate Native American remains, funerary items, and objects of cultural significance held in their collections. The Southern Ute NAGPRA officials administer the consultation, evaluation, and return of remains and cultural items. Southern Ute NAGPRA officials are responsible for carefully reviewing museum inventories across the United States, collaborate with Tribal, state, and federal government officials, and is the primary contact for inadvertent discoveries within the Southern Ute Reservation.

Cultural Education and Ute Language

Cultural Education oversees the development and implementation of Ute cultural presentations and workshops for Tribal Membership and the public, collaborates with various Tribal entities to provide Ute language and cultural perspective within programming, manages the implementation of Culture Camp, and manages the development of Ute language materials. In addition, Cultural Education assists with the implementation of the Southwest Indigenous Language Development Institute (SILDI).

Heritage and Events

Heritage and Events coordinates the Heritage Dancers, assists the Bear Dance Chief and Sun Dance Chief in the implementation cultural events and ceremonies, manages the Tribal Holiday dinners and festivities, and coordinates the Annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair.

Traditional Events and Committees

The Department serves as the budget-owner for these committees and traditional events:

• Royalty Committee
• Bear Dance
• Sun Dance
• Southern Ute Tribal Fair