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Show g Slfggg iJH-anro!sn^ - FIELD SERVICE Uintah & Ouray Agenoy Fort Duchesne , Utah March 13, 1933 UX°° Commissioner of Indian Affairs 1 Washington, D. C. i- Dear Mr - Commissloner: Reference is made to your communication of November 14, 1932, covering the question as to the rights of the Uncompahgre Ute Indians of the Uintah reservation in the tribal grazing reserve of approximately 250,000 acres established by Joint Resolution of June 19, 1902. The Office, no doubt, understands that there has been a controversy carried on among these Indians for years as to whether the Uncompahgres had a right in the tribal grazing reserve. This controversy has at times oaused considerable feeling, and I am sure has had a great tendency to prevent advancement of many of the Indians along the stock-raising line. It is a pleasure for me, however, to advise that under date of March 11, a general council was held at this agency in which approximately two hundred adult Indians were in attendance. This number included practically all of the leading Indians cf the three bands under this jurisdiction. The matter of the rights of the Uncompahgres on the tribal grazing ground was taken up and had been taken up at one or two other general oouncils. However, the outcome of the voiee of the Indians under date of the 11th instant was very gratifying . in view of the fact that out of the total number in attendance there were only two dissenting votes in whioh it was decided that all Indians enrolled on this date at this agency would have equal rights on the tribal grazing ground. In faot, the oounoll went further and expressed a desire that not only would all the Indians have a right in the present grazing lands but in any other tribal. property of which they might at this time be in possession or which they might acquire at some future date. I am sure, in my own mind, that this is a great step forward and that it will have a tendency to relieve the unfriendly feeling that has existed for many, many years. I am also sure that it will have a considerable bearing on the expenditure of the Claim Funds when they are available to interest a great many of the younger people without allotments to purchase cattle and sheep and get started in stock work. Very truly yours, LWP/rb L.' W. Pa£e Superintendent |
