ANCESTRAL & TRADITIONAL LANDS OF THE

Ute Indian Tribe

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

Wasatch Academy resides and operates on the ancestral and traditional lands of the Ute Indian Tribe. The area referred to as the “State of Utah” includes territories and lands that were at one time used by six bands or clusters of family groups of the Utah Ute Nation. The specific Ute bands that once occupied the area where Wasatch Academy is located included San Pitch, Pah Vant, and Sheberetch. Some of this latter group became part of or were eventually absorbed into the Yamparika Band, which was originally from northwestern Colorado and is now commonly referred to as Whiteriver Band. Currently, three bands (Uintah, Whiteriver, and Uncompahgre) of the approximately 3,000 members of the Ute Indian Tribe reside on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in northeastern Utah, in an area commonly referred to as Uintah Basin.

— Wasatch Academy Board of Trustees, May 1, 2021

Historical photo of two Ute members on horseback.

Understanding the History

  • A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories.

  • Yes. It reflects an institution's understanding of local history and the institution's relationship to the past and how it came to be.

  • The original reference to this group is Yutas (the name assigned to them by the Spanish) and over time, shortened to Ute. There were once six bands or clusters of family groups of the Utah Ute Nation that once occupied most of central Utah. The specific Ute bands in this area included San Pitch, Pah Vant, and Sheberetch, which included a group some referred to as Elk Mountain band. Some of this latter group became part of or were eventually absorbed into the Yamparika Band, which was originally from northwestern Colorado and is now commonly referred to as Whiteriver Band of Ute Indians. The San Pitch, Pah Vant and other Utah bands came to be the Uintah Band which now resides along with the Whiteriver on the Uintah and Ouray Ute Reservation in northeastern Utah. One other band from Colorado, Uncompahgre, also resides on the Ute Reservation.

    The Ute was a branch of the great Shoshone Nation which occupied most of the western United States. This nation belongs to the Uto-Aztecan language family which includes the Hopi and Aztec people. Tribes belonging to this language family occupy most of the southwestern United States deep into Mexico, all the way to the Yucatan Peninsula.

    The Ute of Colorado were one of the first tribes to acquire the horse from the Spanish which they shared with their Utah relatives. The horse transformed their culture by expanding their hunting range to include big game, and they became a mountain/plains nation. The horse enabled the Ute to maintain an area which included most of central Utah all the way to the eastern front of the Colorado Rockies and from southern Wyoming to a large section of northern New Mexico.

September 6, 2020 — Ute Indian Elder Forrest Cuch ‘69, Trustee, presents the Peace Pipe to the Head of School.

The Peace Pipe

The Peace Pipe is considered by most North American Indian Tribes as a powerful, sacred instrument. Combined with tobacco which originally consisted of a mixture of native herbs, eventually combined with tobacco obtained through trade; it became a source of access to the spirit world. Beyond ceremonial use, it was also a source of enjoyment. It is believed that whatever was said in the presence of the pipe was recorded in the spirit world with our Creator. This is one of the reasons the pipe was used to seal any or all peace agreements or treaties with the military or representatives of the U.S. Government. 

Pipe stone which is acquired from Minnesota was a treasured trade item for most tribes. Being a mountain/plains tribe, the Ute acquired it through trade with other native people. Sometimes it was acquired as tribute for passage through Ute territories. 

The Legend

“The legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman tells how the People had lost the ability to communicate with the Creator. The Creator sent the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman to teach the People how to pray with the Pipe.”

The Lakota people of the high plains’ states believe the pipe was delivered to them by Buffalo Calf Woman, a spiritual apparition from the spirit world. It occurred at a time when the people were starving from a bitter winter and game was scarce. Two of the best hunters were selected to go for the game. After days of not spotting any game and at the point of giving up, the hunters encountered a white buffalo calf extending down from the sky in a circular motion above them. As it touched the ground, it transformed into a beautiful Indian maiden dressed in a white buckskin. As the hunters approached her, one of them became vain wanting to possess the maiden and he was immediately turned into stone. The other hunter was very humble and respectful, he kneeled down before her. When she noticed his goodness, she approached him carrying a large pipe. She told him to take the pipe and return to his people, place tobacco in it to smoke, and worship our creator in the presence of this pipe and harmony will be restored. Sure enough, upon returning to his people and using the pipe in this manner, the game returned and the people were restored to health and vitality.

The sacred pipe (almost 4 feet long) is currently held in the possession of Arvol Looking Horse who is the 19th Generation carrier of the Buffalo Calf Pipe. Arvol is a powerful spiritual leader among his people. He honors his place and treats the pipe with great reverence. He is very outspoken when it comes to peace and harmony among men/women and peace with the Earth. He is highly critical of the current destruction occurring with the Earth, distraction industries, resulting in Climate Change and other major problems confronting man/womankind.