Southern Utes Meet with Colorado Governors
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Vol. XLI • No. 6 • March 27, 2009 Ignacio, Colorado • 81137-0737 Bulk Rate - U.S. Postage Permit No. 1 Inside Southern Utes Meet With Colorado Governors The Drum Voices 2 Tribal Update 3 Four Corners 4 Health 5 Denver 6 Tri-Ute/CCIA 7 Education 8 Sports 9 Notices 10 Classifieds 11 PowWow 12 photo Jeremy Wade Shockley/SU DRUM In a private meeting between Colorado State Governor - Bill Ritter (at left) and Colorado Lt. Governor - Barbara O’Brien (near right), and members of the Southern Ute Tribal Council met Colorado Commission of Indian to discuss important issues of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Pictured left to right are: Christine Arbogast of the Denver lobbying firm Kogovsek and Associates, Southern Ute Tribal Chairman Affairs Bring Ute Leaders To Denver - Matthew Box, Southern Ute Tribal Councilman - Alex Cloud, Southern Ute Media Manager - Robert Ortiz, Executive Secretary of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs - Ernest House by Robert L. Ortiz Jr. Not pictured but present were Southern Ute Tribal Council members: Barbara Scott-Rarick, Drum Media Manager Marjorie Borst, Jim Newton, Jr. and Drum Photographer - Jeremy Wade Shockley. by Robert L. Ortiz for meeting with Tribal Council Barbara Scott-Rarick, was the first A new Chairman, and newly Drum Media Manager and expressed a strong “govern- of the Council members to speak elected Council members of the ment-to-government” presence on behalf of the Tribe by Southern Ute Indian Tribe and and invited the Governor and Lt. Thanking the Governor for his Tribal leaders of the Ute As part of an annual meeting Governor to the Southern Ute time and that she hopes the gov- Mountain and Northern Ute between Southern Ute Leaders, Bear Dance in May. ernment-to-government relation- Tribes met in Denver, Colorado Colorado State Governor Bill Chairman Box, initiated the ship continues, with dedication to the week of March 16, 2009 for a Ritter, and Lieutenant Governor discussion by expressing his sup- Native American Indian Tribes. number of meetings, in particular Barbara O’Brien, some issues of port of the Department of Local Chairman Box, reaffirmed what the Colorado Commission of concern for the Southern Ute Affairs in their support of a letter Councilwoman Rarick said, “there Indian Affairs (CCIA) and the Tribe were brought to the table by sent to the Town of Bayfield, is a the need to solidify the gov- Tri-Ute. During these meeting Southern Ute Council members in concerning the contamination of ernment’s relationship for what the three Ute Tribes discuss the Office of the Governor at the the Pine River, a source of drink- will be coming in the future by not issues and bring concerns to the Colorado State Capitol building in ing water for the Southern Utes, cutting funds on the reservation.” table and meet with Government photo Jeremy Wade Shockley/SU DRUM Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, by the Towns’ waste water treat- Councilman Alex Cloud, also officials from the State of Curtis Cesspooch, Chairman of the Northern Ute Business March 18, 2009. ment plant. He thanked the State just recently elected, also stated, Colorado. The CCIA held its Commitee, Ernest House, Sr., Chaimrna of the Ute Mountain Taking turns in an effort to for their involvement and “We need to see the importance of quarterly meeting at the Ute, and Matthew Box, Chairman of the Southern Ute Indian maximize time, Southern Ute expressed that Bayfield needs our youth, and for them to see the University of Denver Strum Tribe, united for the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs Tribal Council outlined and financing, and to focus their Tribal government and State gov- College of Law on Thursday, Meeting in Denver, Colorado on March 19, 2009. expressed key points to discuss funding to make a positive ernment working together, in a March 19, 2009 and highlights of with Governor Ritter. Southern impact in the clean-up and positive way and to keep working.” this meeting are as follows: Tribe for their exile out of the work being done on the re-intern- Ute Chairman, Matthew Box, improvements needed. An Invocation was given by State of Colorado as they are part ment of human remains through opened by thanking the Governor Newly elected Councilwoman Governor Meeting page 3 Ute Mountain Ute Elder, Terry of the Ute Tribe, and need to be NAGPRA, “By respecting those Knight and a welcome was given recognized as such. that have passed on, and elimi- by Southern Ute Tribal member, Curtis Cesspooch, Chairman nating the “warehousing” of Shelly Thompson. Shelly is a for the Business Committee of remains, being kept in boxes for Let The PowWow Season Begin member of Native American Law the Northern Ute Tribe, respond- many years.” Students Association (NALSA), ed that there are five Tribes in Chairman Box, also mentioned and opened by saying, “we need Utah, and they would like to have the Bayfield water treatment to educate the world, community the dialogue the Southern and plant and its contamination of the and State about the importance of Ute Mountain Utes have with the Pine River, and asked the State in Indian law.” State government. An issue for its support of funding for the Tribal representatives of each the Northern Utes is an open-rail town of Bayfield. Tribe gave opening comments. system being constructed across Councilwoman, Barbara Scott- The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe began ceremonial sites, and wants more Rarick thanked the State for its sup- with comments from Councilman education provided to the State port, and asked for additional edu- Manual Heart, he talked of the of Utah, similar to what has been cation in treaty rights, “To educate recent visit by Colorado Governor established in Colorado. our Native people.” And also stat- Bill Ritter, to the Ute Mountain Cesspooch also gave an update ed, “We would not be where we are Ute reservation and the growing of the Ute Museum in Montrose, today without the help of the State, interest of solar energy. “Solar Colorado that there is a need to as we look up to our leaders.” energy would help with farming, not only reflect the past but of the Vice-Chairman, Jim Newton, ranching, and prove profitable and future, a portrait of modern times Jr., stated of the uniqueness of the educational for the Ute Mountain as Ute people. collaboration between the Tribe Utes.” Heart expressed. Matthew Box, Chairman of the and State government, “We must Mr. Heart also expressed the Southern Utes began by saying, acknowledge what has been said growing concerns with health care “Our culture, and our traditions in the past and avoid repeating and budget cutbacks in Towaoc are vital when working with gov- ourselves. We need to be proac- and across Indian Country. He ernment, on issues of water qual- tive in continuing our collabora- also asked the State for assistance ity, wildlife, oil and gas.” tion between the governments.” in putting a stop sign at the junc- Chairman Box also acknowl- Councilman, Alex Cloud reit- photo Jeremy Wade Shockley/SU DRUM tion of Mike Walsh Road and edged former CCIA Executive erated what was said earlier, Highway 491, as there have been Secretary and Tribal member, “Look at the leaders. Look at This year’s Denver March PowWow, held March 20 - 21, 2009 had its share of drum groups a number of accidents due to Cynthia Kent, “She paved the what the leadership has done, representing at the Denver Coliseum.With thirty-one drums in the arena, the talented drum higher traffic volume. way for us, and we can learn by and what we need to do for our group Youngbird filled the air with a sound that was powerful and well rehearsed. Mr. Heart also asked the State what our ancestors have taught youth. With the Tri-Ute games, Youngbird hails from Pawnee, Oklahoma. This drum group led by Curtis Hamilton, (white of Colorado to write a letter of us in dealing with the govern- shirt, top right), has received numerous awards of recognition over the years. apology to the Unitah/Ouray ment.” Box also pointed out the Ute Leaders page 3 March 27, 2009 Voices Waini (2) Southern Ute Drum Meet The “ROC” by Robert L. Ortiz ExpressExpress YourYour OpinionsOpinions Drum Media Manager Committee of Elders from escalating numbers. was that re-entry into the job mar- Response Finally, “what kind of exam- ket requires several months. Response to: Express Your ple is being set?” Maybe so, but two of the immedi- The Southern Ute Tribal Opinions: Elders’ Trip Expenses, As Chairman of the ately-affected Council members Environmental Programs attended Southern Ute Drum, February Committee, I communicate with are Tribal Elders already receiv- the 2009 EPA Region 8 Regional 27, 2009 the Budget Committee on the ing an Elders’ Pension from the Tribal Operations Committee The Committee of Elders met status of our expenditures and Tribe in the amount of thousands (ROC) in the EPA Region 8 on March 5, 2009 to discuss receive monthly reports on our of dollars every month. I don’t Conference Center in Denver items on our agenda as well as expenses. A department or com- think they will be looking for a from Monday, March 16 through other important issues. The mittee may elect to move budget- job any time soon. Thursday, March 19, 2009. Committee of Elders recom- ed line items not entirely used to This also seems unfair to all the As detailed on the Region 8’s mended the Committee cover deficiencies. This ensures past Council members and website (www.epa.gov/region8/), Chairman, Ray C. Frost, respond financial responsibility.