At the toe of the Sleeping Ute Mountain lies Towaoc, Colo., home to the Ute Mountain Ute people, where Manuel Heart served on Tribal Council for 27 years both as a council member and as Chairman. On Friday, Nov. 7 at the Ute Mountain Casino, new members of council were sworn in and began their terms of service, during the ceremony former Chairman Heart handed over the keys to new elect Chairman Selwyn Whiteskunk marking the start of a new era for both leaders. During the ceremony, visiting tribal nations, sister tribes, government officials, and community guests all paid their respects to Heart with prepared gifts, songs, and speeches. November 7 will now remain, “Chairman Manuel Heart Day” as proclaimed by Governor of Colorado Jared Polis, as for Manuel Heart he will now turn his focus to rest and spend more time with his beloved family.   

The Ute Mountain Casino’s Bingo Hall was filled on Friday, Nov. 7 as many gathered to watch newly elected members of council – Gwen Cantsee, Marilynn House, and Selwyn Whiteskunk – take their oath of office, but also to give a warm farewell to longtime Ute Mountain Ute leader, Manuel Heart. Among the seated attendees were Southern Ute Tribal Council, Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado Dianne Primavera, Southern Ute Royalty and other visiting royalty. Ahead of the swearing in process, Chairman Heart gave his final address to the people, foremost thanking his wife Marie Heart, his family, his fellow government officials, and the Ute Mountain Ute tribal membership.  

“I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the Ute Mountain Ute enrolled tribal members for giving me the honor and the privilege to serve you on the Tribal Council and also as your Tribal Chairman. I have been on the Tribal Council for 27 actual years, but it all started 31 years ago at the age of 34, that adds up to a little short of three decades. It has been a long journey and I can’t believe how time has flown by while working for [the Tribe] as an elected official,” Heart said. “We have had a lot of challenges, and we have had a lot of successes for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe throughout the years. We have led and set benchmarks, setting great examples. Creating legislation for other tribes to adopt for their tribal governments, we have also partnered with other tribes and state governments to reach and share common visions.” 

“I have developed a great relationship and built a connection with key people in Washington, D.C., including U.S. Senators, congressman, and secretaries of different departments [within] the federal government. Also, working with three states [Colorado, Utah, New Mexico] that we have land based in, their senators and state representatives, county commissioners, mayors, each of the counties and cities,” Heart said. “I have also worked with and sat on national boards and committees, advocating for a voice for all 574 federally recognized tribes within the United States.”  

“As we move forward, even during these challenging times – we must remember that change is going to come about at the speed of the trust of all of us, even as we see programming being kept such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicaid/Medicare, other programs for housing, education, economic development, and our natural resources, we have all of these as our priorities – so it is based on the speed of trust of all of us,” Heart said. “I thank all of you for trusting me from 1994 to 2025, may our Creator continue to bless you all including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, every tribal, state, federal government and leaders around this world. Our priority is world peace, we must take care of one another from the youngest to the oldest, so with that I thank you as the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Chairman, Manuel Heart – tüvüchi togwayak (thank you).”  

With the conclusion of his final remarks, Heart then handed the keys to the tribal office to newly elect Chairman Selwyn Whiteskunk, following the swearing in, and shared a warm embrace with him as he steps into his new leadership position. The crowd also heard kind remarks on Heart’s leadership from Southern Ute Tribal Chairman, Melvin J. Baker, Chairman of the Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee, Shaun Chapoose, Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Chairman, Selwyn Whiteskunk, Jicarilla Apache Nation President, Adrian Notsinneh and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, Dianne Primavera.  

Primavera takes the stand to share her gratitude for the former Chairman’s service throughout the years and also reads a proclamation from Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis. “Chairman Heart, your leadership has left a legacy that will be felt for generations, you’ve shown all of us what it means to lead with heart, to stand firm in your values, to do so with grace and respect – so on behalf of the State of Colorado, and from me personally, thank you Chairman Heart for your years of dedication, your collaboration, and now your friendship,” Primavera said. “With that I would like to read a proclamation from Governor Jared Polis – ‘And Where As, his lifelong commitment to public service reflects the values of strength, wisdom, and unity leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of Ute Mountain Ute people and all Coloradoans. Therefore I, Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado, do hereby proclaim November 7, 2025 as Chairman Manuel Heart Day’ – so as we welcome the new council onto the path ahead, let us do so with unity and optimism, may this new chapter bring continued strength, growth, and opportunity for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and all who call this beautiful state home. Congratulations once again to the new leadership and thank you to everyone who continues to carry forward the spirit of service and sovereignty.”  

Earlier this month, Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper both individually gave tribute to Chairman Heart for his leadership and dedication, on the Senate Floor. “Chairman Heart led the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, a sovereign Nation of the Weeminuche band of Utes, with reservation land in Southwest Colorado, as well as New Mexico and Utah, with humility, perseverance, and a deep love for his people,” Bennet said. “Chairman Heart never let the United States forget its promises to tribal nations. He ensured that national conversations about water, education, economic development, healthcare, and justice include the voices of sovereign tribes. He taught me what true government-to-government respect means. I remain deeply grateful for his friendship, his wisdom, and his example. Colorado and the United States owe Chairman Heart profound gratitude for his decades of service and leadership. We also thank his wife Marie and his entire family for their support of his leadership. His heart of service for his people has inspired me, and working with him remains one of the greatest honors of my time in the Senate. I wish him well in his retirement as he enjoys well-deserved time with his entire family, including his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.” 

“In my years in service in Colorado, as a mayor first but then as a Governor, I can think of very few leaders that have been as successful and insightful and as diligent as Chairman Heart,” Hickenlooper said. “He has always stood up when the time for it called. He has been unshakable in his passion and drive to help Ute people. I know that his deep commitment and his love for the Ute people and for the Ute community is not going to end now as he steps down as Chairman. He will continue to be a leader in his community and in the state of Colorado. We wish him the very best in his retirement, and we want to make sure to thank him for all his dedication and all his service, not just to the Utes, but to all of Colorado.”