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Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Cultural Department

Cultural Department Staff

To provide cultural, language and history education to the tribal membership, tribal families, tribal youth, tribal staff, tribal clients (i.e. courts and Ute detention inmates), tribal contractors, governmental and educational agencies that deal with the Tribe and public by developing appropriate presentations, classes and workshops for each group.
To revitalize and document Southern Ute culture, language and history.
To create methods for obtaining the participation and contribution of culture, language and history education of those living off reservation, such as foster children, college students, elders, Ute detention inmates...
To promote Ute pride in their cultural heritage.
To collaborate with tribal departments and divisions to effectively incorporate, assert and protect cultural, linguistic and historic interests of the Tribe and the membership.
To seek advisement and knowledge from tribal elders in order to develop appropriate cultural, language and history education and documentation.

To develop and maintain a comprehensive record of cultural knowledge for tribal use by gathering information from tribal people and other knowledge individuals regarding traditions, culture, history, custom, language, stories, plants, animals, dances, songs, location of cultural significant places, harvesting locations...
To develop, consolidate and maintain a comprehensive archival record of Ute history, culture and language by acquiring books, documents, audio, photographic, video and other materials from various sources for use by tribal members, tribal families and tribal staff.
To become and maintain a repository for Ute artifacts for tribal use by acquiring items, representative of the present and past, from all available sources.
To provide for the physical maintenance, care, conservation and cultural well-being of all items within the tribal collections and archives.
To develop and maintains a database and inventory system of archival records, library materials, and tribal collections.
To review and make recommendations concerning requests made to the Tribe regarding tribal culture, research, and the use of tribal archives, collections and information.
To cooperate and collaborate with tribal, federal, state and other agencies regarding requests to use tribal archives, collections and information.

To administer federal regulations relating to culture resources, traditional cultural properties, and archeological resources such as NHPA and NAGPRA.
To pursue the development of a Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) in accordance with federal regulations to perform certain historic preservation functions of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
To actively participate and collaborate in tribal and federal regulatory processes, such as NEPA, administered by other tribal departments.
To develop, maintain, and protect a secure tribal database and inventory of cultural resources, traditional cultural properties, places of cultural and traditional importance, plant harvesting locations as appropriate.

To develop and provide heritage tourism events such as exhibit displays, dance performances, demonstrations, etc.
To educate the Ute and non-Ute community in order to promote local tribal businesses.
To respond to information requests regarding Ute culture, language and history.
Plans, coordinates and oversees the Southern Ute Tribal Fair and Ute Nations Day.
Coordinates with chiefs of the Bear Dance and Sun Dance in providing support services and supplies.
Provides culturally appropriate maintenance, care and storage of event items. Develops and maintains an inventory of all items.
Coordinates and manages the use and care of the Youth Camp.
Administers requests for tribal donations/grants of both monetary and support services for cultural activities.

To provide administrative support as the budget owner for the committees mentioned above.
To collaborate with the committees mentioned above to ensure that their by-laws are current.
To assess the progress of the committees mentioned above goals.
To document the history of the committees mentioned above.