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Show Fowler ( 1986: 80- 1) indicates that the Northern Utes hunted the snowshoe hare, white- tailed jackrabbit, desert cottontail and Nutall's cottontail. The Southern Utes are listed for these and for the black- tailed jackrabbit. The skins of the rabbit were cut and woven into blankets ( Lowie 1924: 216; Stewart 1942: 271- 2). Smith ( 1974a: 37, 43, 5, 98) reported that rabbit skin blankets were used for bedding, additional clothing, and for covering a sweat lodge or a menstrual hut. Use by Neighboring Populations in the Great Basin: This animal was also important throughout the Great Basin region. It was eaten and its skin was used for robes ( Fowler 1986: 80- 1). B. 3,2 ... Beayer and Q. tte. r ( Castor canadensis, Castoridae and Lutra canadensis, Mustelidae): The Ute name for beaver is " pah weec'h", and for otter " pah chook"' ( Wardle 1969: 18). Reported Locations: Beaver are found statewide in streams, lakes, and ditches with poplar, birch, or willow vegetation. Otter are located in or near streams or lakes everywhere in Utah except the south ( Sparks 1981: 43,47;). Along the Whiterocks and Uinta rivers are hunting areas for beaver ( 1.2; 4.2). South of the fish hatchery on the Uinta River there were lots of beaver dams at one time ( 4.2). Ute Uses and Methods of Procurement: Before traps were available either the dam of a beaver was destroyed and the animal clubbed or it was shot with an arrow when it emerged from its dam ( Smith 1974a: 58; Pettit 1990: 38). According to Smith ( 1974a: 49, 72), the pelts were used for shoes and the tails and flesh were eaten. Other sources ( Stewart 1942: 244; Sloane 1950: 19- 20; Garner and Hawley 1950: 325; Fowler 1986: 80; Pettit 1990: 38) also indicate that beaver was hunted and eaten by the Utes. Fowler ( 1986: 81) also indicated that the river otter was eaten by the Northern Utes, although no other mention of this could be found in our literature. Historical documents indicate that the beaver and its pelt were very important to the Utes, and in the 1920s and 1930s, agencies of the federal government were assigned to protect the rights of the Utes over this resource. During this time, there was a great deal of controversy regarding hunting and fishing rights in the Uinta Basin. One of the central issues was whether the Utes had a right to hunt and fish ( per treaty stipulations) for monetary gain, but this does not appear to have been clearly resolved. Another important issue, whether the Utes had to follow state game and fish laws on national forest lands ( particularly those lands which had previously been a part of the reservation), was decided against the Utes and for the state game and fish department ( National Archives, Indian Office Files, Uintah Ouray 97191- 1920,12660- 1930,4684- 1926,56566- 1927, all 115). 85 |
