Example Of The Northern Utes Of Utah Essay

According to U.S. Census Bureau, Utah’s population amounted to 2.9 million people in 2014. Among these 2.9 million people 79.7%, 13.4% and 1.5% were white, Hispanic or Latino and American Indian correspondingly. It is interesting that the number of American Indians dwelling in Utah comparing to the overall state population, i.e. 1.5% of the total state population, is higher than the average figure in the United States, being 1.2% (U.S. Census Bureau).
In the meantime, 67% of Utah’s population equaling to almost 2 million people are Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). The state rich historical background explains the above-mentioned demographical diversity in Utah.
According to Duncan, the first Utes appeared within the current territory of Utah in pre-horse days. They arrived from the south, i.e. Latin America. Due to climate conditions and a few natural resources, the Ute culture was related to the earth. They lived in mountains in the summer and deserts and valleys in the winter. Moreover, the Utes did not use numerous rivers and lakes for transportation, but only for food.
Another distinctive feature of the Ute lifestyle is that “Ute family groups lived largely independently of others” and “interfamily cooperation was limited to a few activities” (Duncan). Furthermore, the Utes also had a unique view on leadership comparing to the leadership model brought later to their land by Spaniards and Americans. They only elected leaders for suggestions and not for governing the tribe (Duncan).
About 500 years ago Spaniards first discovered the Utes during their ongoing search for gold. According to Duncan, “Spanish intrusion changed the Utes” as the Spaniards introduced the horse to the Utes, which made them more skilled in hunting and gathering harvest, as well as allowed the Utes to reconnect with tribes dwelling in long distances.
Despite some periods of fights between the Spaniards and Utes, both parties were interested in keeping peace due to strong trade ties that even boosted more in 1820s following the Mexican Independence. Therefore, such close cooperation between the Utes and Spaniards (and afterwards Mexicans) explains why there are Hispanic people and American Indians currently living in Utah.
Nevertheless, the number of American Indians living in Utah is significantly small. U.S. discovery of the land of Utah and further interaction of the Mormons and Utes explain such a small number of American Indians currently living in the state.
According to Duncan, in 1844 Lieutenant John Charles Fremont “traveled through Utah Ute country and his findings encouraged hundreds of settlers to make the trip to Utah, most notably the Mormons”. Upon their arrival, the Mormons showed hostility to the Utes and wanted to intervene into and cease the trade between the Utes and Mexico in order to make the Utes weaker.
During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, there were numerous conflicts and fights between the Mormons and Utes. The Mormons wanted to isolate the Utes. Thus, according to the General Allotment (Dawes) Act of 1887, tribal members received individual parcels of land in the Uintah and Ouray reservation, and the rest of the reservation was distributed among white homesteaders (Utah American Indian Digital Archive).
In addition, the Ute lands decreased over 90% by 1933, while the Mormons excessively used Utah’s natural resources. Nevertheless, the Utes managed to win a lot of lawsuits against the U.S. government in 1940s and 1950s, and to receive the claim for “losses from the dispossession of their land” (Utah American Indian Digital Archive).
Nowadays, the Utes in Utah are becoming more powerful in terms of local and state politics as their financial position is strengthening. According to the Utah American Indian Digital Archive, many tribes accepted Christianity but managed to combine it with their traditional beliefs.
Moreover, Utah is an environment-friendly state, which has many national forests and parks within its territory due to caring attitude of the Utes towards the nature and lack of time for new arrivals to civilize and take benefits of the environment.

Works Cited

Duncan, Clifford. “Chapter Five – The Northern Utes of Utah”. A History of Utah’s American Indians. State of Utah, n.d. Web. 12 March 2015. <http://historytogo.utah.gov/people/ethnic_cultures/the_history_of_utahs_american_indians>.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Facts and Statistics. USA-Utah”. Mormonnewsroom.org. Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 12 March 2015. Web. 12 March 2015. <http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/facts-and-statistics/country/united-states/state/utah>.
U.S. Census Bureau. “State & County QuickFacts. Utah”. Quickfacts.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau, 5 February 2015. Web. 12 March 2015. <http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/49000.html>.
Utah American Indian Digital Archive. “History: The Northern Utes”. Utahindians.org. Utah American Indian Digital Archive, 2008. Web. 12 March 2015. <http://www.utahindians.org/archives/ute/history.html>.