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Show Introduction The Ute Indian People have a history. Their history is uniquely their own and is part of this great country. Even though the Ute People are not as well known as the Plains or the Pueblo peoples, they are also a tribe with a rich history. It is a history of their living on the land and of their attempts to retain that land which the non-Ute invaders came to desire. The history of the Ute People covers a period over hundreds of years. It is a drama of action, conflict, comedy, and much tragedy. As with many other Indian tribes, their basic resources â€" buffalo, deer, nuts, berries â€" were destroyed or replaced by cattle, sheep, wheat, corn. The rivers filled with fish and waterfowl were dried up or diverted for irrigation. Attempts to utilize the new resources which had replaced native resources were met with misunderstanding and hostility. The proud and self-sufficient Ute People were reduced to a condition of dire poverty. This made them dependent upon private and government rations for their daily bread, clothing, and shelter. From that time on, it has been for Ute People a long, hard road back toward our own economic, social, and political independence. It has been an adjustment to difficult conditions. Now we can see other people come to the Indian way of life. Therefore, I think it is up to the Ute People to preserve our own cultural heritage which means so much to all of us. A long time ago none of the Ute People could read or write English. Then after they were placed on their reservations, some young Utes were sent off to school under the government's treaty obligations. Now many of our people are going to school. They learn about the early explorers and settlers, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and important events in United States history. I think it is good for our young people to know about this part of United States history, but they seldom learn how it relates to their own history. They often miss the history of their own people. They miss the recognition of their great leaders. It may seem repetitious to go over the history of the Ute People when much has already been written. However, it is important to x |