The Ute Indians :: essays research papers

The Ute IndiansThe Ute Indians were a group of Indians that lived mostly around themountainous area of Utah and Colorado serious the Colorado River. But theysometimes lived in dessert areas also. The word Ute comes from the word eutawor yuta which means dwellers on the top of mountains. Although it is notcertain where they originated but it is fictive that they arrived to theColorado and Utah area around 1000 A.D. The Ute Indians spoke a part of theUto-Aztecan language called Numic.The Utes were divided into bands or a subdivision of a tribe. at that placewere at one time eleven different bands of Ute Indians. The type of housing ineach band depended on the material available. They lived in teepees, lodges,and domed do structures. The lodge shaped structure was the Utestraditional mean of shelter. These home were temporary because the Utes movedevery season to hunt. The dome shelters were built out of willow branches everyplacea pole frame. They were eight feet high and fifteen feet in diameter. Theyusually built their homes on a river or stream valley and were scattered to final paymentadvantage of wood, shade and other resources. In the winter they moved intolower elevations for the milder weather there.Children were very important in the Ute Indian tribe. Every member was trustworthy for caring and the education of the youth. Babies were held incradle boards that were either made of willow branches bundled together or asolid piece of wood. Willow bark was a great deal used as diapers. Babies were caredfor by girls nine and up. The babies were delivered in a spare shelter thatwas set aside for giving birth. During the birth the mother is usually aidedby another female tribe member. The husband was expected to help the wife bykeeping her warm by bringing lots of firewood. The umbilical cord was cut offwith a stone knife. When the remaining part fell off the mother always saved itin a special pouch that was attached to the babies cradle board. When t he baby wise to(p) to walk the mother placed the umbilical cord on a red ant hill. They model that would help the ants industrious ways to rub off. The children weregiven many names and nicknames in their life. These names were given to themduring various occasions during their life, like when they were born and whenthey learned how to walk. The children were educated by watching and helpingtheir elders.Everything that the Ute needed could be found in their territory.