U.S. CAPITOL - Ute Tribe

P.O. BOx 100 FOrt Duchesne, utah 84026 uintah & Ouray reservatiOn 

Mehdteeh Kahdteesmes! - Merry Christmas vOlumne 47 #6 - DecemBer 20, 2012 

By order of the NortherN 

Ute triBe BUSiNeSS 

Committee: 

Yesterday the Business Committee passed a motion 

ordering all flags on the U&O reservation to be flown at 

half staff for the remainder of the week in respect and remembrance 

of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary 

school massacre, 20 of those victims being children. 

This morning colors were posted at the tribal headquarters 

by Joseph Tapoof, American Legion member Joanna, and 

custodians-Jessica Uncasam and Antonette Appawoo. 

A prayer was given to help all those who were affected 

by this tragedy. Red spirit singers: Reffel Kanip, AJ Kanip 

and Darren Cuch rendered a flag and memorial song in 

honor of the children of Sandy Hook Elementary School 

in Newtown, Connecticut. 

U.S. Capitol 

ChriStmaS tree - 

”the people’S tree” 

Submitted by Curtis R. Cesspooch 

Picture of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree with the U.S. Capitol 

in the background. 

Members of the Northern, 

Southern and Ute Mountain 

Utes were in Washington 

D. C. for the Blessing and 

Lighting of the Christmas 

Trees that were harvested 

from the White River National 

Forest near Meeker, 

Colorado. Many of the 

members, who went to DC, 

also attended the harvesting 

of the trees in Meeker. The 

harvesting of the trees was 

an emotional experience for 

many, seeing the grand tree 

getting cut down. Approximately 

30 of the Northern 

Ute attended the DC Christmas 

tree ceremony. Some of 

our members paid their own 

way. 

Being the “Peoples 

Tree”, the public is involved 

from the State where the 

Capitol Christmas tree is 

harvested, in this case the 

State of Colorado. Since 

the Ute Tribes were asked 

to participate, the Northern 

Ute became a participant. 

There were many Christmas 

Trees that were harvested; 

a 74 year old, 73 foot, 

Englemann Spruce (the U.S. 

Capitol Christmas Tree), 

Christmas Tree 

Continued Page 3 

merry ChriStmaS! 

PRSRT STD 

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UTE BULLETIN 

P.O. Box 100 

Ft. Duchesne, Utah 84026 

Inside This Issue 

Pearl Harbor Pg.2 

Drive Sober Pg. 3 

Education Pg. 4 

Health Pg. 5 

Jobs Pg. 6 

Housing Pg. 7 

Obituary Pg. 8 

Turmurdtee kee yahk - Winter is coming 

The Ute Indian Tribal Business Committee would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

Please take care and be safe during this holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in the New year as we continue 

to work to promote the tribe’s energy and economic development, provide safe and healthy communities, and celebrate 

the beauty of our land and tribe. 

Irene Cuch, Chairperson Ronald Wopsock, Vice Chairman 

Ute triBal BUSiNeSS Committee meet with aSSiStaNt 

SeCretary for water aNd SCieNCe to diSCUSS water 

CompaCt aNd SettlemeNt 

The Ute Tribal Business 

Committee met with Anne 

Castle, Assistant Secretary 

for Water and Science, 

United States Department 

of Interior, on December 12, 

2012, during the Colorado 

River Water Users Association 

annual conference in 

Las Vegas, Nevada. Business 

Committee Members 

present at the meeting were 

Chairwoman Irene C. Cuch, 

Vice-Chairman Ron Wopsock, 

and Members Phillip 

Chimburas and Frances 

Poowegup. Tribal members 

Pat Wyasket, Shawn 

Chapoose, Robert Colorow, 

Reannin Tapoof, and Gina 

LaRose also attended the 

meeting. The Business 

Committee was accompanied 

to the meeting by its 

General Counsel, Fredericks 

Stewart Pike 

Francis Poowegup Phillip Chimburas Richard Jenks Jr. 

Ute Indian Tribe Water Conference delegation L to R; Councilman Ron Wopsock, Reannin Tapoof, Pat Wyasket, Joanne Curry 

Attorney, Councilman Phillip Chimburas, Chairwoman Irene Cuch, Jeremy Patterson Attorney, Councilwoman Francis Poowegup, 

Lynn Burson, Gina LaRose and Gary Moss Water Board Attorney. 

Peebles & Morgan LLP. The 

federal government was also 

represented at the meeting by 

the Senior Counselor to the 

Assistant Secretary of Indian 

Affairs, Dion Killsback, and 

the Director and Program 

Coordinator of the Central 

Utah Project Completion 

Act Office, Reed Murray and 

Lynn Hansen, respectively. 

Representatives from the 

State of Utah at the meeting 

included the State Engineer, 

Kent Jones, and other members 

of his staff. 

The purpose of the meeting 

was to discuss the issue of 

settling the Tribe’s reserved 

water rights, securing needed 

storage facilities, and finalizing 

the Ute Tribe’s Water 

Compact. 

The Business Committee 

members emphasized to 

Assistant Secretary Castle 

that the Ute Tribe still does 

not have the promised water 

storage facilities that are 

needed to put the Tribe’s 

water rights to beneficial use. 

They indicated that storage 

was needed both for farming 

and to be able to use the 

twenty-five percent of the 

Tribe’s reserved water rights 

that was moved to the Green 

River in the 1992 Ute Rights 

Settlement Act. The Business 

Committee members 

urged the Assistant Secretary 

to work with the Tribe so that 

a fair Ute Water Compact can 

be secured and litigation can 

be avoided. 

Assistant Secretary Castle 

supported a continued 

effort to meet with the Tribe 

in order to look at securing 

Tribal storage in the Flam- 

ing Gorge Reservoir and the 

Strawberry Aqueduct and 

Collection System of the 

Bonneville Unit, part of the 

Central Utah Project. She 

also indicated that the federal 

government would like to 

settle the Tribe’s remaining 

issues administratively 

and without litigation. Ms. 

Castle maintained that the 

resolution to the remaining 

Tribal water issues could be 

found in the 1992 Ute Rights 

Settlement Act and asked for 

follow-up meetings to discuss 

and resolve the issues. 


will be meeting with the 

State of Utah team in the 

near future to discuss the 

proposed revisions to the 

Ute Tribe Water Compact.

Page 2 Ute Bulletin 

Pearl Harbor rememberance 

Day 

euben Russell, an Army 

eteran who was injured durng 

the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

7 December is Pearl Harbor 

Remembrance Day. I am 

curious to know how many 

people really even know what 

that day represents. On 7 

December 1941, The Imperial 

Japanese Navy initiated 

a surprise attack on the naval 

forces stationed in Hawaii. 

At about 7:55 a.m. the bombing 

begins with the first wave 

of Japanese aircraft. At about 

8:54 a.m. the second wave of 

Japanese aircraft attack. The 

attack ends at around 9:30 

a.m. There are many casualties. 

Thus began the Second 

World War that would not 

end until President Harry S. 

Truman declared cessation of 

hostilities at twelve o’clock 

noon, December 31, 1946. 

In the aftermath of the 

attack the Navy and Marine 

Corps suffered a total of 

2, 896 casualties of which 

2, 117 were deaths (Navy 

2,008, Marines 109) and 

799 wounded (Navy 710, 

Marines 69). The Army (as of 

midnight, 10 December) lost 

228 killed or died of wounds, 

113 seriously wounded and 

346 slightly wounded. In 

addition, at least 57 civilians 

were killed and nearly 

as many seriously injured. 

So as we go through the 

motions of honoring those 

veterans who were called into 

service during World War II 

as a result of this infamous 

day, I wondered if there was 

anyone from this area that 

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Reporter/Photographer: 

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Media Specialist: Jacqueline A. Tapoof 

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The Ute Bulletin is published bi-monthly by the Ute 

Indian Tribe, Ute Bulletin staff. Our paper is printed by 

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Utah and mailed Wednesdays from Fort Duchesne Post 

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are the sole responsibility of the author and do not reflect 

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or the Ute author and do not reflect the opinions, attitude 

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with information presenting both sides to an issue whenever 

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Address: 

Ute Bulletin 

P.O. Box 100 

Fort Duchesne, Ut. 84026 

Phone: 435-722-8541 Fax: 435-722-0368 

The Ute Bulletin is posted online at www.utetribe.com – 

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disclaimer, and online paper are links from that website. 

Public Relations new radio information can be forwarded 

to any of the above email by 9:30 on Tuesdays to be aired 

on KNEU 1250 AM Ute News Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. 

News From Ute Country December 

was there on that fateful day. 

Private First Class Reuben 

L. Russell, son of Mrs. Ora 

Murdock of Whiterocks, 

Utah, enlisted in the Army 

April 19, 1941 in the Quarter 

Master Division. He was 

injured in the attack on Pearl 

Harbor. After he recovered 

from his wounds he returned 

to his unit and served in Australia. 

His brother Orvid D. Russell 

enlisted in the U.S. Army 

in June 1941. He was later 

captured by the Japanese in 

the Philippines and held as a 

Prisoner of War in the Osaka 

Main Camp Chikko Osaka 

34-135. He died in that camp 

on or about 14 Jan 1945 as a 

Prisoner of War. 

Perhaps there are more 

veterans from this area that 

were there during Pearl Harbor 

but for now we know of at 

least one man. So when you 

see the flag at half mast on 7 

December remember that it is 

done in his honor and for his 

fellow brothers and sisters of 

the Armed Forces that were 

there on that “infamous day 

in history”. 

THe american 

legion ForT 

DucHesne 

PosT #0126 

Pearl Harbor Remembrance 

Day (December 

07, 1941) 

December 06, 2012 

Today we remember the 

events which took out nation 

by surprise and shook the 

free world. We also honor 

and remember all those who 

stood and faced the tyranny 

which threatened the security 

and freedoms of the entire 

world. 

It was a quite peaceful 

morning on December 07, 

Raising the Tribal Flag, Robert 

Lucero, and Benjamin Murray. 

1941when at 8:06 am the 

Imperial forces of Japan 

launched an attack on our 

US Fleet anchored at Pearl 

Harbor, Hawaii. Many of 

our ships were sunk or damaged 

like the USS Arizona 

which lost 1,177 sailors and 

servicemen and at the end of 

the attack 2,341 servicemen 

had lost their lives as well as 

49 civilians. 

The sitting President 

Franklin D. Roosevelt would 

state that “this day would 

live in infamy”. This act of 

aggression would throw our 

country into World War II 

and would engulf the entire 

world. It would cost the lives 

of millions of people worldwide. 

The exact number of 

lives lost is still uncertain to 

this day. 

Japan was finally defeated 

and officially surrendered on 

September 02, 1945 aboard 

the US Battle ship USS Missouri, 

“the mighty MO”. The 

887 ft. 45,000 ton battleship 

with 16” guns saw action 

during WWII, Korea and 

Operation Desert Storm and 

later was decommissioned 

and is anchored in the Pearl 

Harbor Memorial Park in 

Hawaii. 

We remember this day 

of infamy just as we must 

remember that terrible day 

of September 11, 2001 when 

our country was attacked a 

second time by terrorists. 

This second attack threw our 

country into the global War 

on Terror. This act of terrorism 

took the battle from the 

battlefield to the cities and 

targeted everyone and any 

place. 

Because we forgot why 

and how we got our freedoms 

we paid a terrible price for 

being too lax in our vigilance 

and terrorism came to our 

country. This is why we must 

maintain a strong military 

force and protect our country 

and democratic form of 

government. 

I would like to thank those 

who made this event possible; 

*Prayer- Leo Tapoof, US Army 

Veteran 

*Post US and POW Flag- Dale 

Shavanaux, US Army Veteran, 

American Legion Post #126 

*Joseph Tapoof, US Marine 

Corps, American Legion Post 

#126 

*Post Ute Tribal Flag- Robert 

Lucero, US Army Veteran, Ute 

Tribe Veteran Affairs Officer 

*Benjamin Murray, US Army 

Airborne Veteran, American 

Legion Post #126 

*The Ladies Auxiliary- #4519 

*Taps, recorder- Jessica Uncasam, 

Ute Tribe custodian 

And all of you people for 

without you we would not be 

here. God bless you all and a 

Merry Christmas to you all. 

The American 

Legion Fort 

Duchesne Post 

#0126 


Re: Posting of Colors (half 

mast) Rememberance of the 

Newton School shooting 

The Ute Indian Tribal 

Business Committee passed a 

Shandiin Nizhoni Kruger, age 9 

from Window Rock, Arizonasang 

the National Anthem in her language 

at the conference. 

20, 2012 

coloraDo riVer WaTer users associaTion 

conFerence Dec 2012 

Chairwoman Irene Cuch spoke 

during the Bison Conference 

thanking them for honoring her 

son Jamie Cuch (who passed 

away) scholorship fund for 

youth. A criteria is being set 

up for this fund. Ed Secakuku 

UIT Bison Program Director 

was present during the acknowledgements. 

Ed Secakuku, UIT Bison Manager 

UIT Fish & Wildlife Dept. 

represented the Ute Tribe at 

this years Bison Conference 

in Las Vegas, NV. 

motion Monday 12/17/2012 

to fly the colors at half mast 

all this week, in memorial of 

the Sandy Hook Elementary 

school massacre at Newton, 

Connecticut. 

The US President Barack 

Obama also signed a proclamation 

on 12/14/2012, to 

fly the national colors at half 

mast the entire day on Tuesda 

12/18/2012. The victims 

were 20 children and 6 adults 

as well as the shooter and his 

Ute Indian Tribe sponsored an exhibit booth during the Water 

Conference. Reannin Tapoof, Caroline Jenks, Gina LaRose, 

Kayla Tapoof, Miss Ute Tribe, UIT Representative Francis 

Poowegup, Bart Powaukee, Southern Ute Tribe Council Representatives 

Howard Richards and Arron Torres. 

Bart Powaukee and Miss Ute Tribe Kayla Tapoof represented the 

Ute Indian Tribe during the INFR recognition in Las Vegas, NV. 

Eagle Manning and singers provided drum and song. 

UTE ARTIST 

UTE 

CRADLEBOARD 

Ute Cradleboard made of white 

buckskin, blue beads and arrow 

& tipi design measuring 

34” x 24” handmade by Ute 

Artist Mariah Cuch. For more 

information leave a message 

at 435-247-2194. 

mother. 

Our nation is saddened to 

know that things like this can 

happen to those who are innocent 

among us. The school 

shooting incident is a sad 

reminder of the vulnerability 

of our children even while at 

their schools. 

Our prayers and thoughts 

go out to the victims of the 

shooting and their families, 

as well as those who survived 

the incident. 

Bart Powaukee 

Winners for this years Employee Christmas Wreath Contest: 1st Place Education Department 

2nd Tahnee Pegaroose Tribal Dispatcher and 3rd CHR Department. Winners were announced 

at the Tribal Christmas party December 19, 2012. Photo by Kessley LaRose 

Bear’s 3rd Annual Polar Bear Jump 

What started out as a dare from her siblings, ended up a community event! We would like 

to thank everyone who came out and supported Bear's 3rd Annual Polar Bear Jump! It 

keeps getting bigger every year! Maybe you will be brave enough next year to test Bottle 

Hollow's December waters! Thanks Bear! Woo Hoo! 

Ute Bulletin Deadline 


Paper Out 

January 3, 2013 

Interested in getting 

your GED? 

GED CLASSES 

*Starting Monday January 

7, 2013 

*Call Jenna Reed (435) 725- 

4086 for more information. 

GED Class Schedule 

*Mon - Jan. 7th 5:30 to 7:30 

Math 

*Wed - Jan 9th 5:30 to 7:30 

English 

*Friday - Jan. 11th 9am to 

Noon Open Lab 

All classes will be held at the 

Ute Tribe Education Building 

in the Adult Ed. Lab and will 

be taught by Sylvia Carroll. 

A short program was held 

with a prayer by Jessica Uncasam, 

Flag song memorial by 

Red Spirit (AJ, Rafael Kanip 

and Darren Cuch); Posting of 

Colors Post #0126 The American 

Legion, Joseph Tapoof 

and Johanna Jenkins and Ute 

Tribal Flag, Jessica Uncasam 

and Antonette Appawoo Tribal 

Custondians. 

Thank you and 

May God Bless All Of You.

News From Ute Country 

December 6, 2012 Page 3 Ute Bulletin 

Chairwoman irene C. CuCh 

report to the ute indian 

ribe membership 

n behalf of the Ute Indian 

ribe Business Committee 

Business Committee), I am 

roud to report on a number 

f important achievements 

his past year. 

First, and most imporantly, 

the Tribe entered into 

historic settlement of the 

rust Mismanagement lawuit. 

he Ute Tribe received 

he third largest settlement 

mongst over 45 Tribes that 

ave settled their cases, with 

n award of $125 million 

ollars. In response to the 

equest of all of you, the 

ribe’s members, the Busiess 

Committee distributed 

he settlement funds in full to 

ach of the Tribes Members. 

We also were able to fight 

o secure a ruling from IRS 

hat the funds would not be 

axed, and another ruling 

rom Social Security Adinistration 

that the monies 

ould not be count as income 

o affect federal social secuity 

benefits. 

This settlement, and the 

RS and Social Security Rulngs 

did not come easy, they 

nvolved a lot of work, and a 

umber of trips to Washingon 

DC and other meetings, 

uch as NCAI. In the end 

hough, the trust mismangement 

settlement and the 

Christmas Tree 

Continued From Page 1 

“The People’s Tree” that is 

standing on the West lawn of 

the Capitol Building. The 

People’s Trees come from 

public lands that are for the 

people of the nation, therefore 

it is called the “People’s 

Tree.” The Capitol Tree is 

buried 10 feet into the ground 

and encased with concrete. 

The Capitol Christmas Tree 

is a tradition that started in 

1964. 

Another is a “companion” to 

the U.S. Capitol Christmas 

tree that is standing outside 

the National American Indian 

Museum. There were 70 

other Christmas trees that 

were harvested and were 

place in various Washington 

D.C. Government buildings. 

The selection of the Capitol 

Christmas tree lies with 

the US Forest Service. The 

tree must stand between 60 

– 70 feet, must have a cone 

shape so looking at it from 

all sides, it will still appear 

to be in the shape of a cone. 

The tree must have a majestic 

look both in height and girth. 

Trees are selected from the 

National Forests throughout 

the Nation. 

The cutting and placing the 

tree on a flatbed truck was 

not a simple process. Donated 

construction Cranes 

were used to maneuver the 

tree onto a flatbed trailer. A 

special cradle was made to 

support the tree branches; 

the tree was then encased in a 

plywood shelter with a plexiglass 

nose cone so people 

could look at it. To keep the 

tree moist, it was sprayed 

with an anti-desiccant (drying 

agent), and a 50 gallon 

water bladder was attached 

to the end of the three so the 

tree could still draw water 

through the tree. 

The question of would 

the spread of pine beetles 

accompany the tree? Answer 

was that the pine beetles only 

attack the Western Lodge 

Pole Pines therefore other 

forests along the route would 

be safe. 

The trees were harvested 

on November 2 nd , the next 

day November 3 rd , Meeker 

held a Tree celebration. The 

wrapping of the trees for 

their trip to Washington DC 

ruling from IRS are a tremendous 

and historic victory for 

our Tribe, and all other Tribes 

that filed this type of claim 

against the United States for 

mismanagement of our trust 

resources. 

Second, I am proud to 

report that the Ute Tribe has 

acquired its own 100% tribally 

owned energy company, 

Ute Energy Midstream. In 

addition, the Tribe has approved 

the sale of Ute Energy 

upstream for an amount exceeding 

$800 million. 

The purchase of Ute Energy 

Midstream has allowed 

for the Tribe to acquire full 

ownership of an energy company, 

currently valued at over 

$207 million. Ute Energy 

Midstream will provide annual 

revenues to the Tribe of 

approximately $20 million 

per year. 

After purchasing the Midstream 

operations, the Tribe 

will also receive over $158 

million in proceeds from 

the sale of Upstream, which 

will be used to repay loans 

against the Tribe’s 506 account 

pursuant to the terms 

of the Tribe’s financial plan 

ordinance. 

This is a historical moment 

for the Ute Indian Tribe, and 

the purchase of Ute Energy 

Midstream has fulfilled the 

Tribe’s long standing dream 

took two days on November 

3 &4. On November 5 th , 

Tuesday, the Trees began 

their cross country trip to DC. 

A truck carrying the Capitol 

Christmas Tree and another 

truck carrying the 70 smaller 

trees and about 5,000 outdoor 

and 1,000 indoor ornaments 

along with 3 forest service 

support vehicles, two law 

enforcement vehicles and at 

times one vehicle of a nonprofit 

partner, “Choose Outdoors” 

(who raised funds for 

the trip) took the Tour across 

the Country. The Convoy 

visited 26 towns and cities 

in its 21 day, 21 state, and 

5,500 mile trip. 

The Eagle View Elementary 

School students made some 

of the ornaments as well as 

the Tribe’s Senior Citizen’s 

Department. In September 

2012 Lynn Lockwood , Support 

Service Specialist, of the 

White River National Forest 

paid a visit to Eagle View and 

brought some sliced beetle 

killed trees that were made 

into cookie ornaments for 

the Capitol Christmas Tree. 

Loya Arrum, Ute language 

teacher, had her 7 th and 8 th 

grade students help made 

the cookies. Not only did 

her class make the cookies 

but all the grades from 1 st to 

the 8 th graders helped make 

the cookie ornaments. (See 

Vernal Express September 

12, 2012). The Ute Indian 

Tribe’s Senior Citizen Department 

also made some of 

the ornaments for the tree. 

On December 3, with 

good weather, the Blessing 

of the Companion tree by 

Clifford Duncan (Northern 

Ute), Terry Knight (Ute 

Mountain Ute) and Alden 

Naranjo (Southern Ute), 

was held Monday morning 

at the National Museum of 

the American Indian. After 

the Blessing, we went up to 

the 4 th Floor of the Museum. 

Speakers from each tribe 

along with the US Forest 

Service and Museum personnel 

spoke about the Trees. 

Alden Naranjo of Southern 

Ute spoke and also presented 

Lynn Lockwood with a gift of 

appreciation for all her hard 

work. Ute Mountain Ute Vice 

Chairman Bradley Hight 

spoke next and introduced 

our Royalty, Little Miss Ute 

of owning our own energy 

company, and the sale of Ute 

Energy Upstream provides 

our Tribe with the necessary 

funds to pursue other investments. 

Third, we continue to work 

on protecting the Tribe’s 

most valuable resource, its 

Water. 


held another round of community 

meetings in October 

of this year at the Tribal Auditorium 

and in the communities 

of Ft. Duchesne, Myton, 

Randlett, and Whiterocks to 

hear concerns, suggestions, 

and recommendations from 

Tribal Members about the 

proposed changes to the 2009 

Draft Tribal Water Rights 

Compact. 

We will continue to address 

the concerns that you, the 

Tribal member have on the 

compact and water issues, 

and we will continue to 

fight to address water administration 

problems and 

jurisdiction issues related to 

the Tribe’s water rights 

I look forward to another 

year of continued success for 

the Ute Indian Tribe, so that 

we can continue to build a 

bright future for our Tribal 

Membership for generations 

to come. Thank You. 

Tribe, Yampa Caroomp Ridley, 

and Jr. Miss Ute Tribe, 

Adrianna Kowchee, to the 

Room. Ute Mountain Ute 

Councilman Manuel Heart 

spoke next. Loya Arrum on 

behalf of Northern Ute Vice 

Chairman Ron Wopsock 

followed and told of how 

the cutting of the tree was 

an emotional experience 

for her. Terry Knight, Ute 

Mountain Ute, was the final 

tribal speaker. 

The lighting of the Capitol 

Christmas Tree was held on 

December 4 at 5pm Eastern 

Time, 3PM Utah Time. The 

Capitol Tree is the tree in 

front of the Capitol, not to be 

confused with the National 

Christmas Tree which is 

standing in front of the White 

House. After some speeches 

Speaker of the U.S. House 

of Representatives John 

Boehner (Ohio) along with 

17 year old Ryan Shuster, 

with a clear evening, lit the 

Tree. 

All the Colorado youth, 

ages 5 – 19, who submitted 

handmade ornaments for the 

Capitol Christmas Tree, became 

eligible for the drawing 

for the trip to Washington DC 

for the Christmas Tree Celebration. 

Ryan was the lucky 

Colorado student who won 

the drawing to light the Tree. 

Traditionally the Capitol 

Christmas tree is lit by the 

Speaker of the House and 

the National Christmas Tree 

is lit by the President and 

the First Lady. The National 

Christmas Tree lighting ceremony 

was held on Thursday 

December 6 th of which some 

of our tribal members were 

planning to attend. 

The Capitol Christmas 

tree is lit with approximately 

10,000, energy saving, light 

emitting diodes (LED) and 

will be turned on from dusk 

until 11pm each evening until 

December 26 th . After the 

lighting of the Tree, a Congressional 

Reception was 

held in the American Indian 

Museum for all who attended 

the Lighting Ceremony. Each 

guest was given a bag of gifts 

when they left the reception. 

One Christmas tree ornament 

that was made from beetle 

killed trees was in the bags. 

It is interesting to note 

that former Colorado Senator 

Chairwoman Irene Cuch invited the Ute delegation during the Christmas Tree Ceremony. 

Christmas tree Ceremony 

The Ute Indian Tribe is 

honored to be a part of the 

Capitol Christmas Tree ceremony. 

I am joined by Ute Business 

Committee Member 

Frances Poowegup who has 

brought her granddaughter 

to DC – one of our future 

leaders, and Clifford Duncan 

a tribal elder, former councilman, 

and spiritual leader. 

Yampa Caroomp Ridley, 

Little Miss Ute Tribe and 

Adrianna Kowchee Junior 

Miss Ute Tribe. 

I would also like to acknowledge 

our sister tribes, 

the Southern Ute and Ute 

Mountain Ute Tribes. 

I am thankful for the tribal 

members who traveled to DC 

to be with this magnificent 

tree as it was lit in celebration 

of Christmas. 

The Ute Indian Tribe is 

made up of three bands, the 

Uintah, the Uncompaghre, 

and the Whiteriver Bands. 

Frances is a member of the 

Whiteriver Band. 

The Whiteriver Band, or 

Ben Nighthorse Campbell 

was one of the truck drivers 

to transport the U.S. 

Capitol Christmas trees to 

Washington D.C. He drove a 

custom decorated, specially 

equipped donated Mack 

Truck. Senator Nighthorse 

said it was a rigorous 5,500 

mile trip with many 12 hour 

days. Senator Nighthorse 

also drove a Colorado Capitol 

Tree to DC. in the year 

2000 while he was in office. 

This Capitol Tree is the third 

Engelmann Spruce Tree that 

has come from the State of 

Colorado. Lynn Lockwood 

also accompanied the Tree 

along the route to Washington 

DC. 

In 1992 a Tree came from 

the Chippewa National Forest/Cass 

Lake near Bemidji, 

Minnesota. Members of the 

Chippewa Tribe performed 

on the Patio. This may have 

been when the Indian Tribes 

first began participating in the 

Capitol Christmas event. The 

1996 Capitol Tree came from 

Utah’s LaSal Nation Forest 

near Moab, Utah. 

The 2013 Capitol Christmas 

Tree will be selected 

from Washington State’s 

Coalville National Forest 

with invitation to the tribes 

within that area to participate. 

The forest is located in 

the North East corner of the 

State and North of Spokane 

Washington. Representatives 

from the Coalville National 

Forest were in DC to gather 

information on the process. 

This is the first tree that will 

come from the East Side of 

the State. 

I asked what will happen 

to the trees after the holidays. 

There hasn’t been a set decision 

as to what will become of 

the Christmas trees. There is 

talk of using the trees to make 

furniture. The ornaments 

might go to the Museum. That 

future of the trees might be 

posted on the Christmas Tree 

website. 

You can follow the events 

and get more information 

on the web site: capitolchristmastree2012.org 

and 

face book at: 2012 Capitol 

Christmas tree 

(Several articles were used 

for this report) 

as they are know in the Ute, 

the Yamparika, and this tree 

are from the same land. 

This was a land of forest 

and abundant elk herds that 

provide a homeland in a valley 

beneath the Rockies and 

along the winding Whiter 

River. 

The Whiteriver Band lived 

here from the time immemorial 

and are the only band 

whose ancestral homeland 

included the Yampa Valley 

which is the present day 

Whiteriver National Forrest. 

This tree holds special 

Representatives from the BIA Law Enforcement, BIA 

Supt., and Justice Center Cordinator met with Ute Indian 

Tribe Business Committee to address issues of concerns on 

the Uintah & Ouray Reservation. 

Darren Cruzan, the National Director of BIA Office of 

Justice Services stated, “If we work together and don’t look 

back we can be stronger. Law Enforcement can’t solve all 

the issues here alone but if we work together, share goals, 

strategy, and improving the quality of life of those living on 

the reservation.” 

Issues discussed were Law Enforcement Issues, Jurisdiction, 

Drugs and Drug Trafficking, Civil Rights Abuse and 

Justice facility update. 

Fact Sheet: 

November 1, 2012 

The Ute Indian Tribe is seeking 

legislation in the United 

States Congress that will allow 

the Utah Schools and Institutional 

Trust Lands Administration 

(SITLA) to exchange 

minerals it owns in the Grand 

County portion of the Hill Creek 

Extension for Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) minerals 

in the Uintah County portion 

of the Hill Creek Extension. 

What are the benefits of the 

land exchange? 

The mineral exchange will 

give the Tribe full ownership 

(surface and minerals) of the 

Hill Creek Extension in Grand 

County. 

The Tribe can permanently 

protect the pristine wilderness 

and cultural resources of the 

Hill Creek Extension in Grand 

County. 

The Tribe and SITLA have 

agreed to jointly develop and 

share revenues from the BLM 

minerals that SITLA will get in 

the Uintah County portion of the 

Hill Creek Extension. 

The exchange involves minerals 

owned by SITLA and the 

BLM within the Reservation 

and costs the Tribe nothing. 

Why does SITLA own minerals 

in the Hill Creek Extension 

on the Reservation? 

In 1894, Congress passed 

the Utah Enabling Act allowing 

Utah to become a state. Section 

6 allows Utah to get parcels of 

open lands throughout Utah to 

memories of years past and 

the place that the Whiteriver 

Band will always call home. 

When I look at this beautiful 

tree, I see a part of our Tribe 

and I am proud to see it stand 

alongside the United States 

Capitol. 

May this tree stand as an 

example of the strong partnership 

between all of the Ute 

Tribes and the United States 

Congress. 

Turgrayak! 

Chairwoman, Irene Cuch 

Chief Brooks, Sal McDonald Asst. Special Agent in Charge, 

Steve Juneau Deputy Dir. Law Enforcement and Darren Cruzan, 

Patty Marks Attorney and Justice Center Coordinators. 

bia Law enforCement 

LegisLation to 

CompLete a Land 

exChange in the 

hiLL Creek 

extension 

support public schools. 

In 1897, as a part of allotment, 

Congress passed an Act 

opening the Uncompahgre 

Reservation to non-Indian 

settlement under the general 

land laws of the United States. 

When the Uncompahgre 

Reservation was opened it was 

considered “public domain” 

and Utah acquired lands in this 

area under Section 6 of the Utah 

Enabling Act. 

Even though Section 3 of 

the Utah Enabling Act provides 

that Utah cannot acquire Indian 

lands, when Congress opened 

the Uncompahgre Reservation 

to the public domain Utah was 

able to acquire lands in this area 

under Section 6. 

SITLA got these minerals 

under Section 6 when Utah 

became a state. These minerals 

are not part of the Navel Oil 

Shale Reserve (NOSR) that was 

returned to the Tribe in 2000. 

Why is legislation needed to 

complete the land exchange? 

In 1948, Congress passed an 

Act adding 510,000 acres to the 

Uintah and Ouray Reservation. 

This area, the Hill Creek Extension, 

was originally part of the 

Uncompahgre Reservation. 

The 1948 Act recognized that 

Utah owned lands in the Hill 

Creek Extension and provided 

a process for Utah to exchange 

its lands for other lands. 

However, the 1948 Act was 

unclear about the lands and minerals 

that could be exchanged. It 

was amended in 1955 and needs 

to be amended again for BLM 

to process the exchange.


Page 4 Ute Bulletin December 20, 2012 

Native American students from East Elementary are pictured with Assistant Principal Bertoch. 

These students received certificates from JOM Mentor/Tutor Rowena Macrorow for having 

good attendance during the 1st quarter of the school year. 

Perfect Attendance 

(OA/OT) 

Issac Baker 

Kruz Cambridge 

Jay Ryder Cuch 

Shawtove Ridley 

Samuel Navanick 

New Tutor 

We would like to welcome 

our new JOM Mentor/Tutor 

to our school this 

year her name is Rachael 

Onofre. She has been a 

tutor for the last 7 years 

serving most of those years 

at Lapoint Elementary, 

East Elementary, and now 

at EagleView. She will be 

helping Mrs. Emeline Root 

in serving the needs of our 

students this year.If you 

should have any questions, 

concerns or comments 

please feel free to contact 

either of them by email at 

Rachael.onofre@uintah. 

net or emeline.root@uintah.net. 

If you would like to 

speak to us please call the 

office and leave a message 

and we will contact you at 

our earliest convenience. 

Thank you! 

Up Coming Events 

On Friday Dec. 7, 2012 

it’s Remember Pear Harbor 

Day by dressing in red, 

white and blue. 

The Week of Dec. 10- 

14 is Christmas Goodie 

Week! Each grade will be 

assigned a day to bring 

goodies to share with all. 

Your student’s teacher will 

send out notices. 

Friday Dec. 14, 2012 

it’s Crazy Christmas Sock 

Day. There will be prizes 

for the best socks in the 

No Absences 

Talynady Harris 

Malakie Large 

Vanessa Holfeltz 

following grades K-2, 3-5, 

6-8 and the faculty. Each 

teacher will pick two students 

then the judges will 

pick the winners! 

IXL Online Math Program 

If your child is having 

Math Challenges the Ute 

Tribe Education Department 

is using a new online 

program that can help. It’s 

called www.ixl.com. We 

can provide you with an 

account for your child as 

long as they will be using 

it. Please let us know if 

your child would like to 

use this excellent online 

tool and it will be FREE! 

We would just need your 

email address to set it up. 

Call the school and leave 

a message or send us an 

email. 

Unpaid Lunch Accounts 

If your child has a 

negative amount owing on 

their lunch money account 

more than $8.00 they will 

NOT be served the regular 

lunch. They will only be 

served a roll and milk. If 

you have not filled out a 

free and reduced lunch 

application please do so 

now. You could qualify 

for free or reduced lunch 

for your children. If you 

have further questions 

call Kathleen Johnson in 

the Cafeteria @722-2247- 

EXT. 1616. If you need to 

No Tardies 

Logan Bush 

Kolby Cambridge 

Ethan Gabbard 

Nicholas Joe 

Kei Serawop 

Jaytreh Thompson 

Zoey Van Ausdal 

News from EagleView 

Elementary School JOM Mentor/Tutors 

ute accePteD aS “PeoPle to PeoPle 

amBaSSaDor” 

Hello. My name is Geraldina 

June Selestewa. I am 

17 years old and a senior at 

Union High School. 

I am the Daughter of 

Gwendolyn Cuch and Oran 

Selestewa. I have been accepted 

into the people to 

people ambassador program. 

I am asking for your 

help as I fundraise for a trip 

which is in conjunction with 

the ambassador program. 

People to People is a 

program that takes selected 

students from all over the 

country to different countries 

as representatives of the 

United States. 

I will be representing the 

state of Utah as well as Native 

Americans. The countries 

that I will be traveling to 

are Europe, Italy, Austria, 

and France. This is a once 

in a lifetime educational 

opportunity for me and I am 

asking for my peoples help. 

The first fundraiser I will 

be doing will be collecting 

old or broken cell phones, 

and empty printer ink cartridges. 

This will also help 

the environment. I will have 

collection boxes in the following 

places. 

1- Tribal Office commons area 

set up payment arrangements 

give her a call. 

Reminders 

Please fill out a parent 

consent form for EACH 

child attending our school 

in order for us to fully serve 

your child’s educational 

needs. If you need one via 

email or sent home with 

your child please contact 

us and let us know. 

Also, If you have not 

received a copy of the Ute 

Tribe’s Zero Tolerance Attendance 

Policy which has 

been in effect since 2008 

you can request and copy 

via email or sent home with 

your child. 

We thank you for the 

opportunity to work with 

you and your children this 

school year. We would like 

to encourage you to get 

involved in your child’s 

education in any way. Volunteering 

is a great opportunity 

to get to know your 

child’s teacher and class. 

Helping with homework, 

reading with your child or 

have them read for 15 or 

20 min. per night are great 

ways to start. 

Thank you, 

Emeline Root & 

Rachael Onofre, 

JOM Mentor/Tutors 

EagleView Elementary 

2-Ute Plaza 

3-Ute Lanes Bowling Alley 

in For Duchesne 

You can contact Gwendolyn 

Cuch to pick up phones 

at 435-823-0680. 

Please help me achieve 

my goal of being a part of 

this wonderful opportunity. 

Any help and all donations 

are greatly appreciated. 

Tur gra ahk, 

Gerladina Selestewa & Family 

UIT Head Start held an Open House December 10th for the new facility. Business Committee 

were honored receiving blankets from Erena Chiver’s Head Start Program Director. 

2012-2013 HeaD Start 

ProGram 

The Ute Indian Tribe 

Head Start program has been 

instrumental in providing 

early childhood educational 

services for children 3-5 

years since 1965. 

During this duration there 

have been numerous changes 

to the way we have implemented 

the curriculum for 

our young children; more 

recently we are using the 

“Ute Curriculum” which 

has been catalogued at the 

Native American Museum 

in Washington, D.C. and we 

Duchesne County School District: 

December 21st 2012 last 

day of school. Return to school 

January 2nd 2013 

Ronee K .Wopsock-Educations 

Directors Assistant 

had heard an announcement 

on the morning radio that 

Uintah high school was organizing 

a blanket drive to 

make fleece blankets for the 

students at the Sandy Hook 

Elementary. 

As it caught her attention 

she made the call(s) to get in 

touch with Symone Massey, 

an organizer for the Blanket 

project. She had informed 

Ronee that they raised over 

$1,000 dollars yesterday and 

that she bought out all of the 

fleece at Wal-Mart, so she 

would be heading to SLC 

the following day for more. 

It cost roughly $12 to make 

one blanket! 

Ronee had sent out an 

email to the tribal people of 

the Uintah & Ouray Reservation 

asking for donations of 

anyone who would be willing 

to help out. 

The response she got 

was well received and 

the people reached into 

their pockets, wallets, 

and checkbooks to help. 

are using the “We Can” curriculum 

which has been very 

successful with our young 

children. 

We are extremely proud of 

our Teaching staff who send 

our children to the public 

school system equipped 

for success with a thorough 

knowledge of entry level 

requirements. 

Our current challenge is 

implementing the Family 

Engagement portion of the 

2007 Head Start act. Through 

this change we will need 

Redspirit provided drum and song for the Open House held 

at the new Head Start Facility. The building is located next 

Four Winds center. 

ScHool DiStrict HoliDay DateS 

Uintah County School District: 

December 21st early out Last day 

of school 

Return to school January 2nd 2013 

Ronee expressed appreciation 

to those who turned 

out the first afternoon after 

her email had gone 

out, also stating she would 

still be taking donations. 

Thank you U&O today 

we raised $1,283.00 to be 

donated toward the blankets 

heading to Newtown Connecticut. 

A special thank you 

goes out to the following 

people for all their donations: 

Antonio Arce 

Bettina Redfoot 

Venice Shavanaux 

Rosemary Black 

Felicia Cuch 

Ingrid Wopsock 

Steve Nelson 

Bruce, Judy, Sundae and 

Chandler Pargeets 

Charmaine and Romie 

Beston 

Gwenita Pawwinnee and 

Lanora Reed 

UIT Tribal Enterprise Staff 

Antoinette Appawoo and 

Shannon Penningjack 

Manuel Myore 

Ronald Wopsock 

Ferron Secakuku 

Erena Chiver’s, new UIT 

Head Start Program Director. 

greater parent involvement 

in accomplishing the educational 

and health needs of 

their child. 

We are confident that the 

communities we serve will 

be supportive in helping us 

reach this milestone. 

We know we have been 

successful in our endeavors 

by every child that is prepared 

for entry into the public 

school system and every parent 

that has been equipped to 

advocate for a better education 

for their child. 

Francis Poowegup, Council 

Representative 

Blanket Drive a Great SucceSS 

Charlene Duncan 

Lelanie and Quinn Redfoot 

Thomasina Appah and Grace 

Blackhair 

Lora Garcia and Alora Murdock 

Shana Wopsock 

Delana Mart 

Sharon Small 

Tahnee Pegaroose 

Jenny Cuch 

Tony Small 

Sweetwater Serawop and 

Family 

Carlisle Cuch 

Rose Taveapont 

Carey Doyle 

Nina Murray 

Kea Murray 

Ambie Redfoot 

Pearl Littlegeorge 

Danielle Ross 

Roneva Valdez 

Sue Chapoose 

Rachel Shore 

Jessica Uncasam 

Leslie Trujillo 

We were also given a 

$300.00 check from an 

anonymous donor… Thank 

you all for your donations!


Don’t Shatter the 

Dream Campaign 

holiDay DriverS 

Drive Sober anD 

make inDian 

Country Safe 

FORT RUCHESNE, 

UTAH- From December 

14, 2012 through January 

1, 2013, BIA-OJS, U&O 

Agency Police Department 

is mobilizing for the 

Don’t Shatter the Dream 

impaired driving campaign. 

Alcohol impaired driving 

is a problem with a 

devastating impact on our 

nation. In fact, nearly a 

million and half drivers 

are arrested each year for 

driving under the influence 

of alcohol or drugs (FBU’s 

Uniform Crime Report). And 

cops arrest an average of 

161 drunk drivers per hour. 

This is also a great issue for 

our sovereign nations. Our 

people are suffering art our 

own hands, as native Americans 

are killed and injured at 

crash rates two to three times 

higher than the national average. 

Motor vehicle crashes 

are actually the leading cause 

of unintentional injury for 

Native American ages 1-44. 

And many of these fatal 

crashes happen right here 

on our lands. For example 

in 2009, 240 fatal crashes 

on Indian Reservations resulted 

in 280 fatalities-and 

280 families grieving the 

loss of a loved one. Across 

the country, the total of 440 

Native Americans died in 

motor vehicle traffic crashes. 

The high rate of traffic fatalities 

has been widespread 

concern across all of Indian 

Country. Over the 10 year period 

from 1999-2008, 6,310 

Native Americans died in 

motor vehicle traffic crashes. 

To help prevent this unnecessary 

loss of our tribal 

members and loved ones, 


the Don’t Shatter the Dream 

campaign unites the Bureau 

of Indian Affairs and tribal 

law enforcement agencies 

to send a message that driving 

while impaired will not 

be tolerated. The holidays 

are historically a dangerous 

time on the roadways, 

so throughout the season 

tribal officers will be vigilant, 

conducting checkpoints and 

saturation patrols to protect 

our reservation roadways. 

Holiday celebrations can 

lead to increased drinking and 

driving, and combined with 

inclement winter weather, 

this can be a recipe for disaster. 

“The holidays should be 

a time of celebration for our 

tribal members, and we do 

not want them to experience 

e pain and sadness caused by 

impaired driving.” said Chief 

of Police, Joseph brooks 

III of the BIA-OJS, U&O 

Agency police Department. 

Sadly, many choose to 

no celebrate wisely. “Of 

Native Americans killed in 

traffic crashes in 2009, 47 

percent of the fatalities occurred 

in alcohol impaired 

driving crashes-the highest 

percentage for any race and 

ethnicity,” said Chief of Police, 

Joseph Brooks III, “so 

we’re stepping up our enforcement 

increasing patrols 

and watching for drivers who 

choose to drive dangerously.” 

BIA-OJS, U&O Agency 

Police Department encourages 

all tribal members to 

set a good example for safe 

driving this holiday season, 

making the roadways safe 

for all. “Help protect the 

reservation-always designate 

a sober driver, make sure to 

buckle up, and think of how 

your actions can affect others,” 

[he/she] said. “Don’t put 

your fellow tribal members 

in danger because of your 

decisions. Impaired driving 

can take away your freedom 

or even your life. Drive sober. 

And Don’t Shatter the 

Dream. 

C o n t a c t 

Contact: Joseph Brooks III, 

BIA-OJS Chief of Police 

435-722-2012, E-mail:joseph. 

brooks@bia.gov 

Tribal 2012 

Law 

Enforcement 

Don’t Shatter The Dream 

Native American Holiday 

DWI Crackdown 

December 14, 2012 - 


EPA OFFERS TIPS 

ON PROTECTINg 

yOUR FAmIly 

FROm CARBON 

mONOxIDE 

POISONINg 

Simple things you can do to 

stay safe 

Contacts: Lisa McClain-Vanderpool 

(303)312-6077; Ron 

Schiller (303)312-6017 

(Denver, Colo. – November 

28, 2012) It’s getting cold in 

the Rocky Mountain and Plains 

region, and the arrival of winter 

means we’re firing up our gas 

furnaces and wood-burning 

stoves to warm our homes. 

When we use our furnaces and 

stoves, and spend more time indoors, 

we are at increased risk of 

exposure to carbon monoxide. 

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, 

invisible gas produced when 

gasoline, natural gas, propane, 

kerosene, and other fuels are not 

completely burned during use. 

The gas is one of the leading 

causes of poisoning death, with 

more than 400 victims in the 

United States each year. In addition, 

more than 4,000 Ameri- 

illegal Dump Site eaSt of 

ft. DuCheSne 


GPA/EPA Department would like to annouce “This is a NO DUMPING Area! There are two 

roll off bins south of Motor Pool and Water System building for the community use. 

cans are hospitalized for carbon 

monoxide poisoning and 20,000 

people get sick enough from 

exposure to visit an emergency 

room each year, according to the 

U.S. Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention. 

Any combustion appliance --gas 

furnaces, wood stoves, hot water 

heaters, gas ranges --produces 

carbon monoxide. A car running 

in an attached garage or 

the use of a hibachi indoors can 

also contribute to a build-up of 

carbon monoxide in a home. 

Since carbon monoxide is odorless 

and colorless, an exposed 

person may not be aware they 

are being poisoned until it is 

too late. Unborn babies, infants 

and persons with heart disease 

are particularly at risk. Early 

symptoms of carbon monoxide 

poisoning can be similar 

to flu symptoms, including 

headaches, nausea, dizziness 

and fatigue. 

If you experience symptoms that 

you think could be from carbon 

monoxide poisoning, get fresh 

air immediately. Open doors and 

windows, turn off combustion 

appliances, and leave the house. 

Go to an emergency room and 

tell the physician you suspect 

carbon monoxide poisoning. 

If carbon monoxide poisoning 

has occurred, it often can be 

diagnosed by a blood test done 

soon after exposure. 

Steps you can take to protect 

yourself and your family from 

carbon monoxide poisoning 

include: 

Make sure appliances are 

installed and vented properly. 

Have gas or wood-burning 

appliances, heating and 

ventilation systems (including 

chimneys) inspected 

regularly. 

Inspect homes after heavy 

snow fall and make sure 

snow is removed from around 

exhaust stacks, vents, and 

fresh-air intakes. 

Buy a carbon monoxide 

detector for your home or 

apartment and make sure 

the detector meets Standard 

UL 2034 of the Underwriters 

Laboratory. Keep in mind 

that installing a detector is 

not a guarantee of safety, it 

is just one of the precautions 

you should take. 

Things you should NOT do: 

Use a gas range or oven for 

heating your home 

Leave a car running in a 

closed garage 

Burn charcoal indoors 

Operate unvented fuel-burning 

appliances (including 

electric generators) indoors. 

For more information on 

carbon monoxide and other 

indoor air quality pollutants, 

visit EPA’s agency web site 

at: www.epa.gov/iaq.



APPLICATIONS FOR POSITIONS WITH CLOSING DATES MUST BE RECEIVED IN OUR OFFICE BY 4:30 p.m. ON 

THE CLOSING DATE Must have a current valid Utah Drivers License and provide proof of past driving record for the last 

thirty six (36) months from the Department of Motor Vehicle.] (Must be submitted with application) Please contact: Ute Indian 

Tribe Personnel Office at 435-722-5141 Sue Chapoose, Personnel Director Roneva Valdez, Secretary U.I.T. Jobs and applications 

are available online at www.utetribe.com 

Christmas 

tree tags 

BIA Forestry would like 

to announce that Christmas 

Tree tags are now available 

for pickup. Our regular 

XTO Energy 

A Subsidiary of 

ExxonMobil 

Bid Work Opportunity 

Project: BPU 13-3M pipeline 

XTO Energy INC. will 

be scheduling a bid walk 

to construct 2,800’ of 6” 

diameter, buried pipeline. 

Companies interested in 

participating should contact 

Damien Jones (damien_ 

jones@ xtoenergy.com) no 

later than 5:00 pm on November 

12th to receive additional 

information concerning this 

project. 

Requirements: 

*API 1104 welding test and 

specification apply. 

*Additional requirements to 

be described at bid walk. 

Invitation for Bids 

For 

Labor Contract to Rehabilitation 

Work On a Mutual 

Help Home located at 

3000 West, 4000 North, 

Neola, Utah 

The Ute Indian Tribally 

Designated Housing Entity 

(UITDHE), Fort Duchesne, 

Utah is seeking labor bids 

from qualified individuals/Contractors 

to perform 

rehabilitation work on the 

exterior and interior of each 

home as identified by the 

“Owner”. 

All work will be done in 

accordance with UBC, State, 

and local building codes. 

Interested contractors can 

contract the housing authority 

office for a detailed scope 

of work and directions to 

the housing sites. Bidders 

are encouraged to inspect 

the site where services are 

to be performed and to 

satisfy themselves as to all 

general and local conditions 

that may affect the cost of 

performance of the contract 

Ute Indian Tribe 

Job Vacancy 

Announcement: December 17, 2012 to January 14, 2013 

(Note: Tribal Preference will be exercised) 

business hours are Mon. - Fri. 

8:00 to 4:30. For more info 

please call 722-4350 or 722- 

4351. 

Also, the crew at BIA 

Forestry would also like to 

wish you all a very Happy 

and Joyous Holiday Season! 

Ute Indian Tribally Designated 

Housing Entity 

to the extent such information 

is reasonably obtainable. 

In no event will a failure to 

inspect the site constitute 

grounds for withdrawal of a 

bid after opening or constitute 

grounds for a claim after 

contract award. 

The successful Contractor 

will be required to provide 

their own tools, equipment, 

vehicles, proof of insurance, 

and Workman’s Compensation 

coverage while under 

contract with UITDHE. 

UITDHE will supply the 

materials for each unit that 

is to be worked on. 

Indian Preference: Firms 

claiming Indian Preference 

must submit proof of enrollment 

with an Indian tribe as 

defined in the Native American 

Housing Assistance 

and Self-Determination Act 

(NAHASDA) of 1996 and 

also provide proof of at least 

51% Indian ownership of 

their firm. 

Davis-Bacon wage requirements 

shall apply. Federal 

funds are being used to 

fund this contract. All applicable 

federal laws shall apply 

including but not limited to 

the provisions of the Native 

American Housing Assistance 

and Self-Determination 

Act (NAHASDA) 25 U.S.C. 

4101, et seq. Individuals or 

firms that are interested in 

bidding must be registered 

with the Ute Tribe TERO, 

have a current Ute Tribe Access 

Permits and a valid Ute 

Tribe business License. 

In accordance with Section 

3 of the Housing and 

Urban Development Act of 

1968 and the implementing 

regulations at 24 CFR part 

135, the Contractor will make 

best efforts, consistent with 

federal and tribal laws and 

regulations (including Section 

7(b) of the Indian Self 

Determination and Education 

Assistance Act ), to give 

low-and very low- income 

persons the training and 

employment opportunities 

generated by Section 3 covered 

assistance and to give 

qualified business concerns 

the contracting opportunities 

generated by Section 3 

covered assistance. 

All questions may be 

directed to the office of the 

Executive Director of the Ute 

Indian Tribally Designated 

Housing Entity at 435-722- 

ADVERTISEMENT FOR 

BID 

WATER SETTLEMENT 

DEPARTMENTS 

Construction of a Boundary 

Fence in the Book Cliffs 

Road less Area 

Construction of a fence 

located in Grand County 

along the Ute Tribe and BLM 

boundary, 80 miles south of 

Fort Duchesne, Utah. 

The fencing project will 

consist of four segments 

totaling approximately 1.13 

miles in length. Each fence 

segment will be built using 

2 3/8” or 2 7/8” steel top 

rail welded securely to the 

posts. 

The top of the rail welded 

securely to the posts. The top 

of the rail will be built at 44” 

above the ground level. 

Sealed bids for FENCING 

PROJECT will be received 

by Tara Amboh at the Water 

Settlement Bldg., 7074 East 

900 South, North Bldg., Fort 

Duchesne, Utah 

Closing date for Bid is 

October 25, 2012. 

Companies interested in 

bid should contact Ms. Tara 

Amboh, Water Settlement 

at (435) 722-3136, (435) 

659-4116 or email taraa@ 

utetribe.com for details and 

information. 

“Hey Beautiful” 

Wigs-Hair Extensions 

Ponytail & More !!! 

2696 South 500 East 

Salt Lake City, Utah 

84106 

801.474.3482 

Monday - Friday 9-6 pm 

Sat. 10 - 5 pm 

Sheila A. Owner 

“Hey Beautiful” 

BLACKHAWK 

TRADING 

Blackhawk Trading 

Of Roosevelt has new items 

in stock for your holiday 

shopping. 

Stop on in and pick up 

your craft 

supplies for 

your winter 

beading 

projects. 

They are 

located at 

127 West 

450 South 

(northwest of Alco). 

They will also be having 

an upcoming anniversary 

sale. 

The store will be open 

today 10 to 5 and regular 

hours are Monday through 

Friday 10 to 5. You can also 

find them on Facebook. 

4656 or the Development 

Office at 435-722-7483. 

All sealed bids will be 

opened on January 2, 2013 

at 10:00 a.m. The proposals 

must be marked “Do Not 

Open Bid Enclosed” Faxed 

bids will not be accepted. 

Bids are to be mailed or 

delivered to the following 

address: 

Ute Indian Tribally Designated 

Housing Entity 

P.O. Box 250 

Fort Duchesne, Utah 84026 

Help Wanted 

Oilfield Labor 

Clean and drift Casing. 

Inspection downholes 

tools. 

(970) 314-2974 

Apply Online totaldepthinspection.com 

Wage based on experience. 

Randy Hackford 

(970) 270-5498 

Price Water 

Pumping, Inc 

JOBS: 

CDL Drivers needed. Must 

have at least 2 years 

experience, and clean 

driving record. 

Laborers needed for Oil 

Field Services. Must have 

a clean driving record, 

and safety certificates, and 

DOT cards. 

Please contact: Price 

Pumping, Inc. at 630 East 

500 South, Vernal, Utah 

84078 

(435) 789-9777 

Questar 

Questar provides an 

engaging work environment 

and offers competitive 

compensation 

that includes base salary 

and performance-based 

incentive programs, 

paid-time off, health care 

and other benefits. Visit 

www.questar.com to 

view career opportunities 

and apply for open 

positions. Questar is a 

drug-free workplace and 

an equal-opportunity 

employer. 

Morton 

Electric, Inc. 

2289 East 3200 South 

PO Box 183 

Vernal, Utah 84078 

435-789-6959 

Morton Electric, Inc. 

is seeking a Licensed 

Journeyman Electrician. 

We offer Competitive 

wages. 

Benefits offered, including 

Medical, Dental, 401 K, 

Sick, and Vacation Time. 

Applicant must be willing 

to work on call schedule, 

and work in the Oil & Gas 

Industry. 

Apply in person at Morton 

Electric, Inc. 


Anderson & Wood 

Construction is now 

hiring for the position 

of Lineman (high voltage 

power) for a project in the 

Fort Duchene area. This 

position requires a 

minimum of 6 months on 

the job training or 

completion of an 

electrical line worker 

program or equivalent. 

Please send cover letter 

and resume to Shaneen at 

shahn@awconst.com or 

fax to 208-888-4945. This 

is a temporary position for 

the duration of the project. 

Open until filled. 

Subcontract 

Opportunities 

OPD is performing 

work at the Iron 

Horse Gas Plant in 

Fort Duchesne, UT 

Contact Optimized 

Process Designs, 

Inc. to inquire 

about construction 

opportunities. 

Submit business 

information to: 

UTERO Construction 

Opportunities PO 

Box 810 

Katy, TX 77492 FAX: 

281-371-0132 

RIO ENERGY 

SERVICES LLC 

Rio Energy Services LLC 

is looking for experienced 

pressure testing hands. 

Must be able to pass a pre 

employment drug test have 

clean driving record. Must 

be willing to work long 

hours and be on call 24 hrs 

a day. 

Must be aware of safety in 

oil field operations, organized 

and a strong drive to 

work by self. Mentorship 

skills are a must. Penmanship 

is a plus. 

Contact No. 307-231-6160 

Ask for Adam. 

JOBS 

Wildcat Energy Services is 

currently looking for a experienced 

workover rig operator/pusher 

with valid 

drivers license and CDL. 

We are also looking for a 

experienced derrick hand 

with at least 3 full years of 

workover rig experience. 

Good pay. benifits after 

probation period. Call 

Hanson Perkins 435 459 

1303 or Email Resume to 

employment@wildcatenergyservices.com 

Hanson Perkins 

V.P Operations 

Wildcat Energy Services, 

LLC 

2298 E 3200 S, Vernal, UT. Newfield Production 

Company wants you to 

know they have started on 

JOBS 

Roosevelt, Utah 

We’re Growing and Looking 

for a Self-Motivated Go Getter 

to Join the Team! 

Part-Time Drivers, Lessors, 

Owner-Operators 

Minimimum Age Requirement: 

21 Years Old 

Required OTR Experience: 

24 months verified 

License Requirement:CDL 

Class A 

Trailer Types: Water Tank, 

Belly Dump, Side Dump 

Allowable Tickets in 3 Years: 

1 

Allowable Accidents in 3 

Years: 1 

All-Shifts Available & On- 

Call or Email Vanessa 

(435) 724-5719 or Vliesik@ 

gmail.com 

Phase 2 of its exploration 

program, and they will be 

collecting seismic data. 

Here’s where you will see 

activity occurring—from 

Bridgeland across through 

Myton and north to highway 

40 running out of Roosevelt 

where it intersects with Ioka 

lane. Newfield has acquired 

permission from the Ute 

Indian Tribe and will be 

working closely with Energy 

& Minerals during the activity. 

The data acquisition will 

be completed by Dawson 

Geophysical with management 

provided by Green 

River Resources. 

If you have questions 

about the operations, contact 

Elton Blackhair, Field Landman 

with Newfield, at (435) 

823-2075.


Ute Indian Tribally Designated Housing 

Entity 

Request for Proposals For Inventory Management Development 

Services 

The Ute Indian Tribally Designated Housing Entity 

(UITDHE), Fort Duchesne, Utah is seeking proposals from 

qualified individuals/firms that can provide Inventory Management 

Development (set-up) services: 

Interested firms shall submit proposals which includes a 

business resume, description of the services to be provided, 

three clients to serve as reference, provide history on working 

with Indian Housing Authorities or Native American 

Tribes, fee structure, types of expenses that are charged, and 

identification of the individual(s) in the firm who will have 

primary responsibility for providing services to the Housing 

Authority, Each proposal will be rated using a point system 

that is applied to the information provided by the offeror 

that addresses the needs of the housing authority. 

Scope of Work: 

The individual or firm will assist in the inventory of 

existing warehouse material and some housing authority 

assets. Upon completing the inventory the information will 

be entered into the housing authority’s inventory management 

software program. Ute Indian Tribally Designated 

Housing Entity (UITDHE) uses the Housing Data Services 

(HDS) Inventory Management module. As the inventory 

is taken there may be other work items identified which the 

individual or firm may be asked to complete, time permitting. 

The length of services for this work will be approximately 

two weeks in length. 

This Request for Proposal (RFP) is being advertised as an 

open procurement with Indian Preference. Firms claiming 

Indian Preference must submit proof of enrollment with a 

federal or state recognized Indian tribe and proof of at least 

51% Indian ownership of their firm. 

The rating system is as follows: 

•Past working experience with Indian Housing Authorities 

15 points 

•Fee structure & expenses 15 points 

•Indian Preference 15 points 

•Contract history/work performance 15 points 

•Reference 15 points 

Total Points: 75 points 

All questions may be directed to the office of the Executive 

Director or Development Officer of the Ute Indian Tribally 

Designated Housing Entity at 435-722-4656. 

All sealed proposals are due no later than January 2, 2013 

at the close of business which is 5:30 pm. The proposals 

must be marked “Do Not Open Proposal Enclosed”. Faxed 

proposals will not be accepted. Proposals are to be mailed 

or delivered to the following address: 

Ute Indian Tribally Designated Housing Entity 

P.O. Box 250 

Fort Duchesne, Utah 84026 

Vernal K Mart 

Vernal K Mart 

would liKe to welcoMe 

ute tribal 

MeMber’s to coMe 

and Visit us for all 

your christMas 

needs. 

happy holidays 

News From Ute Country Page 

Ute Bulletin 

Deadline December 27, 

2012 

Paper Out 


Deadline January 10, 2013 

Las Vegas (3 nites) 

What happens in Vegas 

Stays in Vegas 

Vegas Get Away! 

The Fun Bus will depart 

Ute Plaza at: 10:00 am 

Wednesday : Dec. 26, 2012 

Returning: Saturday 29, 2012 

No Boarding 

OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION’S ON YOUR OWN L 

Call MOTOR POOL 

722-2245 

Seating is limited, must sign up to board bus 

Ute Tribe will not be held responsible for lost, stolen property 

Domestic breakup or divorce 

GOOD LUCK 

722-2245 

Attention: 

7 Ute Bulletin 

white house tribal nations conference 

and business coMMittee Meetings in 

washington, d.c. 

Chairwoman Cuch and Dr. Roubideaux at IHS Headquarters 

in Rockville, Maryland 

During the week of December 

4, 2012, Ute Tribal 

Business Committee Members 

Chairwoman Irene 

Photos by Curtis Cesspooch 

Cuch and Frances Poowegup 

attended meetings with 

Congressional and Agency 

Officials in Washington, 

Blessing of the National Museum 

of the American Indian 

Companion Tree was given 

by L-R: Terry Knight of the Ute 

Mountain Ute, Clifford Duncan 

Northen Ute, and Alden Naranjo 

Southern Ute. 

Indian Minerals Owners 

U.S. Department of the 

Interior Oil and Gas Royalty 

Question and Answer Session 

Thursday, January 10, 2013 

Tribal Auditorium 

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

BIA - Uintah and Ouray 

Agency Fort Duchesne, Utah 

Representatives from the 

BIA, BLM OST will be available 

to answer your questions 

regardless of where 

your allotment is located. 

Contact OST 722-4361 info. 

D.C. The meetings were 

scheduled to make progress 

on long-standing health care 

and law enforcement issues, 

and to urge Congress to take 

action on a bill that would 

return Hill Creek Extension 

lands to the Tribe. 

The meeting with Indian 

Health Service Director, Dr. 

Yevette Roubideaux was 

very productive. Chairwoman 

Cuch raised eight 

long-standing problems with 

Dr. Roubideaux and sought 

answers. Dr. Roubideaux and 

her staff are currently preparing 

information to respond to 

the problems, including an 

action plan to improve the 

quality of care at the Uintah 

& Ouray Service Unit. 

Chairwoman Irene Cuch 

also attended the fourth 

White House Tribal Nations 

Conference on December 5, 

2012. The Conference brings 

together all federally recognized 

tribes with President 

Obama and the Secretaries of 

federal agencies, including: 

the Secretaries of Interior, 

Transportation, Education, 

Agriculture and many more. 

During the Conference, 

Chairwoman Cuch attended 

a break out session on law 

enforcement issues and 

informed Department of 

Justice Officials that it was 

time for the Department to 

start taking action to provide 

adequate law enforcement 

resources and address law 

enforcement issues on the 

Reservation. 

christMas tree 

cereMony 

washington d.c. 

Group shot of Northern Ute Capitol Tree delegation. 

A part of the Northern Ute Capitol Christmas tree delegation 

pose at the Regan International Airport Washington DC.


irthday 

ishes 

Happy Birthday JT Murray 


I would like to wish my 

niece Danedra Thompson a 

Happy Birthday from your 

Uncle Chad Reed! 

Also Happy Birthday to 

my mother Barbara Reed 

December 26. I just wanted 

to let you all know i love 

you all! 

Happy Birthday 

Lawrence Jenks III 


14 years old! 

Remember to strive for the 

best and let know one tell 

you different. From all 

your family who love you 

dearly. 


Henry P. Appawora 

December 26, 2012!... 

Age hum? 

From the family near and 

afar. :) 

To: Chandra & Jamie & 

Tina Wissiup 

In Loving Memory 

of 

Imagine Leigh Wissiup 

Broadus 

Merry Christmas from 

heaven 

I still hear the songs, I still 

see the lights, I still feel 

your love on cold wintery 

nights. I still share your 

hopes & all of your cares. 

I’ll even remind you to 

please say your prayers. 

I just want to tell you, you 

still make me proud. You 

stand head and shoulders 

above all the crowd. Keep 

trying each moment to stay 

in his grace. 

I came here before you to 

help set your place. You 

don’t have to be perfect all 

of the time, he forgives you 

the slip If you continue the 

climb. 

Please be thankful 

today, I’m still close 

beside you in a new special 

way. 

I love you all dearly, now 

don’t shed a tear, cause I’m 

spending Christmas with 

Jesus this year. 

Stay Strong. 

Love and Respect from 

your sister and Auntie 

Rosita S. Reed 


I would like to wish my 

Grandson Nolan B. Reed a 

Happy Birthday 7 years old 

December 8 th and I would 

like to wish my children, 

grandkids, dad, brother, 

and church family a Merry 

Christmas & Happy New 

Year. God Bless you all 

with Peace, Love, and Joy. 

Enjoy the Holidays. 

Jesus loves you all 

Love & Miss you all 

Lots of Love 

Rosita S. Reed 


A Belated Birthday Wish 

to my husband 

Jubenal Esquibel 

Dec. 8 th 

I would like to wish you 

all the best life has to give 

you. You have taken care 

of me and helped me raise 

Shannon, Becky, & Arick. 

Now we have started a 

new chapter four years ago 

to raise our grandchildren 

Pepper, Maria, & Esea. I 

Like to wish to tell you 

how much I love you and 

how much your cared for. 

You work everyday, sometimes 

weekends and it’s a 

real blessing to have you in 

my life. You have always 

been there for me and my 

children. I know that the 

creator loves me so very 

much to sent you to me 18 

years ago to take care of us 

all. 

With all our love. Many 

many birthdays to come. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

A birthday wish for our 

New Years Eve Baby December 

31, 2012 

you have grown so much 

this year and it brings me 

joy to see that you always 

have a smile on your face. 

When I tell you I need 

something done-boy you 

hop right to it. Your always 

so helpful and you try so 

hard to keep your room 

clean,. I don’t know what 

to get you, but a big fat hug 

& kisses. Have fun on your 

day. We love you more than 

all the fish in the ocean. 

Love you very very much, 

Grandma SuaAnn & Jub 

Sisters Esea, Pepper, 

Becky, Shannon and Uncle 

Arick 

Obituary 

THOMAS CURRY 

“1994 - 2012” 

Thomas W Curry, age 18, 

of Independence, and was 

killed in an automobile accident 

on December 8, 2012, 

near Rawlins, Wyoming. 

He was born March 8, 

1994, in Roosevelt, to Royce 

W. and Margaret Peggy 

Chapoose Curry. 

Thomas graduated early 

from Union High School at 

the age of 17. 

He then started diesel mechanic 

training at Wyoming 

Tech College in Laramie, 

Wyoming. He really enjoyed 

fixing cars and trucks and 

would take everything apart 

when he was a kid. However, 

he could actually put it back 

together and it would work 

better than before. He also 

enjoyed hunting, fishing, and 

welding. He was a member 

of the Pyramid Lake Paiute 

Tribe and would help his dad 

at Sun Dances and loved going 

to Sweats. 

Thank You 


He got along with everyone 

and was very loyal to 

his friends. He had a great 

sense of humor and always 

teased and joked around 

with his nephews, especially 

Nathan. 

Thomas is survived by his 

parents, Margaret and Royce 

Curry, Independence; siblings, 

Dana Stubbs, Salt Lake 

City; Three Eagles Russell 

Curry, Eveningstar Ramona 

Curry, both of Roosevelt; 

grandparents, Richard Curry, 

Roosevelt; Refella Verna 

Smith, Salt Lake City; Bertha 

Cuch, LaPoint; special 

friend, Leandra Blackhorse; 

nieces and nephews, Nathan, 

Raven, Rucus, Roscoe, 

Reamber, Rasonna, Racy 

Curry, Dondilynn Blackhorse; 

Colden, Jocelyn, and 

Taelyn Stubbs; and numerous 

aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

He was preceded in 

death by his half sister, 

Danielle Fluerty; uncles, 

Woody Myore and Willy 

Chapoose; grandfather, 

Thomas Chapoose; grandmother, 

Yvonne Curry; and 

cousin Jackie Murray. 

Funeral services were held 

on Wednesday, December 

12, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., at 

the Hullinger Mortuary. 

There was a gathering on 

Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. at the 

Mortuary after which he was 

taken to his parents’ home in 

Independence for a wake. 

Burial will be in the Reed 

Cemetery in Farmcreek. 

Condolences may be shared 

at www.hullingermortuary. 

com 

On behalf of my son/brother, Thomas W. Curry, we would 

thank everyone who helped us during our time of sorrow. We 

couldn't have done it without all the help from everyone. We 

deeply appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts everything 

everyone did for us, there is so many kind hearted friends, 

family and relations to list. Your prayers and hugs got us 

through these tough times. Once again we thank you and 

love you all, The Curry Family

U.S. CAPITOL - Ute Tribe

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