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Show 20 Ute Lands In the Ute land, more than fifty mountains reach upward over 14,000 feet. Dozens more reach above 13,000 feet. No other tribe in the United States spent time in such elevated and awesome places. The mountains were important refuges for the Ute People particularly after they acquired the horse. The People traveled on horseback from their mountains onto the plains where they were able to gather food. Then they quickly returned to the mountains which they knew so well, and where pursuers from other tribes were at a great disadvantage. The Ute People tell that the land is so varied because of a wayward arrow. Originally the surface of the earth was a smooth plain. One day Senawahv told Kuesuvf (Hawk) to place his quiver at a short distance from where they stood, so that it could be used as a shooting target. Then Senawahv sent an arrow from his bow which struck the quiver, but glanced off it. The arrow plowed its way along the face of the earth in every direction, digging deep gorges and canyons, making valleys, and plowing up mountains, hills, and rocks. In this way, the water courses were set, the hills and mountains were made, and huge broken rocks were scattered about the country. Before this time the nations had lived as one community. But with the origin of the varied surface began the scattering of the nations. There was now a great diversity in the land, and each nation chose for itself a special country. Kuesuvf loved the wild rocks. He said, "There I will build my home." Kwanutch (Eagle) loved the crags and peaks and mountain summits, the fierce wind and roaring storm. He said, "My home will be in the cliffs," Oonahpooch (Badger) said, "I will make me a warm burrow in the ground." Suenuvf'(Wolf) said, "I will roam over the plains," and Kweeyahgu:t (Bear) said, "I will live in caves." Cheeguch (Duck) liked the marshes of the lakes and streams; Tee-etch (Deer) liked the forests and Kooch or Tawooch (Buffalo) the grassy plains. After the people had thus separated, they stopped speaking their ancient language. Each one adopted a new one and handed it down to their descendants. From this time, they also lost their wisdom because of their disagreements and quarrels. So they slowly changed to the forms in which they now appear.1 |
