The Ute Indians :: essays research papers

The Ute IndiansThe Ute Indians were a group of Indians that lived mostly around the unsmooth area of do and Colorado near 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 assumed that they arrived to theColorado and Utah area around 1000 A.D. The Ute Indians spoke a part of theUto-Aztecan delivery called Numic.The Utes were divided into bands or a subdivision of a tribe. Therewere 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 atypical because the Utes movedevery season to hunt. The dome shelters were built out of willow branches overa pole frame. They were eight feet high and fifteen feet in diameter. They usually built their homes on a river or stream valley and were scattered to takeadv antage 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 wasresponsible for caring and the education of the youth. Babies were held in rocking chair boards that were either made of willow branches bundled together or a substantial piece of wood. Willow bark was often used as diapers. Babies were caredfor by girls nine and up. The babies were delivered in a supernumerary shelter thatwas set diversion for giving birth. During the birth the develop is usually assistedby some other 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 throw away off the mother always saved itin a special pouch that was attached to the babies cradle board. Whe n the babylearned to walk the mother placed the umbilical cord on a red ant hill. Theythought that would help the ants industrious ways to rub off. The children weregiven some names and nicknames in their life. These names were given to themduring various occasions during their life, worry when they were born and whenthey learned how to walk. The children were educated by watching and helpingtheir elders.Everything that the Ute indispensable could be found in their territory.