OCR Text |
Show A. 2.3), and wild roses ( Appendix A. 1.16) comprise a rich, varied and heavily used arboreal environment in the vicinity of the Uinta River and its adjoining watercourses. Given the importance of the Uinta Canyon and its high bench waterways in the practice of the Sun Dance, it is not surprising that this is a preferred area for the gathering of other plants that have spiritual and/ or medicinal uses. Seven of the more important reported by the consultants include bear root [ especially in the general vicinity of Big Springs] ( Appendix A. 3.8), peppermint ( Appendix A. 5.5), watercress ( Appendix A. 5.13), sweetgrass ( Appendix A. 4.8), valerian ( Appendix A. 3.12), cattail [ especially along the canals] ( Appendix A. 5.2), and sweet sage ( Appendix 5.11). Other plants of use that are associated with and/ or located by consultants in this area include balsam root ( Appendix A. 3.1; Appendix A. 3.2), Oregon grape ( Appendix A. 3.7), sego lily ( Appendix A. 3.9), tapertip onion ( Appendix A. 3.11), monkeyflower ( Appendix A. 4.5), clover ( Appendix A. 4.3), prickly pear cactus ( Appendix A. 5.10), sunflower ( Appendix A. 4.7), scarlet gilia ( Appendix A. 5.12), yarrow ( Appendix A. 5.14), and Indian paintbrush ( Appendix A. 5.8). Again, there are additional plants reported in the literature and/ or by consultants that, while not specifically identified with this river and its adjoining high bench waterways, have a good probability of being located here. These include wintergreen ( Appendix A. 1.17), blue camas ( A. 3.5), bulrush ( Appendix A. 3.3), purplespot fritillary ( Appendix A. 3.15), biscuitroot ( Appendix A. 3.17), woods draba ( Appendix A. 4.10), curly dock ( Appendix A. 5.3), false dandelion ( Appendix A. 5.4), horsemint ( Appendix A. 5.6), and wild parsley ( Appendix A. 5.9). It cannot be emphasized enough that because the riparian environments of the Uintah River and its adjoining canal systems ( from Big Springs to the Sun Dance grounds at Hayden) are put to sacred, religious purposes, it is probable that there are other highly regarded plant species in the area. Knowledge about some of these is likely to be guarded and protected by the spiritual persons who are engaged in healing and/ or who conduct sacred ceremonies such as the Sun Dance. This would not be information readily available to outsiders, even to members of the Northern Ute tribe who themselves do not have the spiritual prerogative or right to know about these matters. 2. U. B Faunal Resources The canyon and high bench area of the Uinta River and its drainage systems also contain important sites for fishing and the hunting of big and small game. The neighborhood of Big Springs and the Beaver Ponds is 18 |