GENERAL ELECTION
Hilda Burch
Tribal Council Candidate
Maykh Nuuchiu and Greetings, Southern Ute Tribal Members
I am Hilda Burch, the daughter of the late Everett Burch and Florence Williams-egap. I have worked for the Southern Ute Tribe for 30+ years, started with Youth Conservation Corp (YCC). I have lived off the reservations while my father was attending colleges in CA, AZ and UT. Including living in Lawrence KS for 13 years before returning home to take care of my elders in the family and continuing the practice of my culturally upbringing. Having been raised culturally by my aunts, uncles and various family members has been a blessing, Sundance, Bear dance, pow wows, sweats and Native American Church (NAC). Including Picking berries, sage, cedar, gathering wood and hunting.
I graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School, received my AAS Degree in Accounting at Haskell Indian Jr. College, Lawrence KS in 1984 and received my BA Degree in Business Administration at Fort Lewis College, Durango CO in 2004.
Why am I running for Council? After I retired in July 2026, I noticed how we Tribal members are not being heard. We are only seen as a hindrance to departments, tribal entities and local communities. Membership needs someone to listen to them, be their voice, ask the questions and to communicate forth. Let me be that voice for you, advocate for you. I’ll ask those questions and find ways of communicating to you all – Tribal membership. Yes, we have the tribal newspaper and social media and some departments have newsletters … However, not every tribal member lives on the reservation, there must be creative ways to communicate.
I have sat on various Tribal Boards and Committees: Currently I sit on the BGC Board of Directors (Vice-Chair), and Committee of Elders (Secretary). Previous Boards/Committees I sat on were; Apprenticeship, Boxing Commission (Vice-Chair), Pow wow Committee, JOM (Chairman), PF and Casino Safety Committee, Ethics Commission, and Gaming Commission (Chair/Vice-Chair).
Work history:
Haskell University; 8 years-maintained Student snack bar, Gift Shop and working in the Food Service industry.
Sky Ute Casino; 10 years-Pino Nuche restaurant, Property Manager, Tribal Membership Program (TMP) converted to Career Development Program (CDP), HR and various rotations while in the CDP. Rotations in the program were: Certification in BJ and Poker dealer school, Buyer, Accounting, Surveillance, Marketing, Count, Cage, Hard/soft drop, Slots, Food & Beverage (including Banquets) and Bingo.
Permanent Fund (PF) 20 years total-3 years in Construction & Project Management (C&PM); 7 years in Tribal Housing; and 10 years in TERO. Throughout my years of employment, I have always started from the bottom to learn about the position and workers, moving upward into Management/Division Head positions-including interim Housing Director.
As one of the Candidates for Tribal Council, I would be an asset and the driving force when it comes to helping you voice your concerns and be heard.
Thank you for taking the time to read who I am. Again, let me be your voice-asking the questions for answers and how to better communicate to all tribal membership on or off the reservation.
Vote to preserve our cultural identity, language for our future leaders; our future generation of the Southern Ute Tribe. Vote for Hilda M. Burch – I have the passion to advocate for tribal members’ needs and to communicate effectively.
SPECIAL ELECTION
Byron Frost
Tribal Council Candidate
Mique Pino Nuchu,
My name is Byron Frost, and I am running for the 2026 Special Election 2-year Southern Ute Tribal Council seat.
My parents are the late Jack and Annetta Frost. My wife is Etta N. Frost, and we have two sons, Brian and Aaron Frost egap, and a daughter Deanna Frost egap. I’m the guardian of our two grandsons Richard and Ivan Joseph.
My political Ideology is using the pluralistic approach which I consider true democracy. Pluralism is the backbone of a healthy democracy. It’s part of our tradition of self-governance, the idea that every person has an equal say in public and tribal decisions, by having the freedom to be part of decision-making process, freedom of speech, freedom to express yourself and being able to have due process when needed. Pluralistic Leadership strengths governance by harnessing diverse perspectives.
Tribal Human Resource: As a leader I will advocate for transparency and accountability from the tribal administration regarding the recovery of addiction for our tribal members. Recovery from alcoholism, drug use, and gambling addiction. Tribal members should always be in the forefront of any recovery program. Grants are open for non-tribal members and are used in that manner although when we house addiction members this should be for tribal members. Leaders approve programs but the tribal members are always on bottom of the totem pole. Our Committee of Elders should be involved in recovery programs, as they have lived through these episodes. Using the songs and prayers with the ceremonies can alleviate the cravings that addiction brings to individuals.
Tribal Enrollment: As time goes on our one-quarter enrollment for Southern Ute tribal member will eventually cease as many of our tribal members will not meet the mention criteria. We will no longer exist as a tribe, as predicted by our ancestor’s assimilation to the white American cultural will eliminate us. Dis-enrollment will be considered by the government, there will no longer be tribes. This is a big concern; I will advocate to have a general meeting with the tribal members to have comments on what their thoughts are and start the process of securing our tribal enrollment to include all Southern Ute Descendants this includes off reservation tribal members.
In conclusion I have touched upon issues that must be addressed; time is of essence. There are many issues that affect our lively hood, which we as leaders must address. Just to name a few, education, off reservation tribal members concerns and follow-up. The revision of the Constitution of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, especially the Qualification of Candidates.
Thank you, and I look forward to answering any question you may have.
I humbly ask for your vote on October 30, 2026.
SPECIAL ELECTION
Michelle D. Taylor
Tribal Council Candidate
My name is Michelle D. Taylor. I am a candidate for the upcoming 2026 Special Election on Friday October 30. I am asking for your support and vote. For those who do not know me. I sat on the Tribal Council (Vice Chair) for a three-year term in the years 2005 through 2008. I have also served as the Executive Officer in the years of 2014 through 2016. My parents are the late Robert and Davetta Taylor. I have held various positions in the Southern Ute Tribal Organization. I have my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice, Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Political Science. I also have attained my Masters Degree in Social Work. I have three adult children, two of which work for the Southern Ute Tribal Organization. I have six grandchildren. I live in Ignacio and have been spending time with my children and grandchildren since moving back from Phoenix, Arizona.
There are many issues that I see facing the Southern Ute Tribe and Tribal members now and in the future. I have sat back and watched the political issues that have arose across the reservation that will affect the Tribal Membership that will need to be looked at and prioritized. I was very fortunate to have sat on Tribal Council during the older administration. I feel we have moved far away from those older schools of thought and way of dealing with the membership. I would like to focus on the culture and how to maintain it during these trying times when our sovereignty is being under attack from the larger political scene. I would like to focus on the elders and their needs that have been forgotten or pushed aside. Health care needs to be addressed for all of the Tribal Membership. I would like to look at what is being done with the wellness center that was supposed to be addressing substance, mental health and wellness health for all.
I would like to look into some of the Tribal Departments that need to have more internships, employment and policies that need to be addressed and updated. I would like to look into the priority list of the Tribal Council which means bringing back focus groups to hear from the membership. Tribal Council should be listening to the membership because that is what they are elected to do. That priority list of every Tribal member changes all the time so we need to look and hear from the membership again. The current state of homes needs to be repaired, and programs built to help the membership with those repairs.
Our future is vital to the survival of our Tribal members, whether it is financial or meeting their needs is what Tribal Council needs to be looked at and addressed. The Business part of the Tribe seems to be doing well diversifying the money, but what other new or stable markets do we invest in for the Tribal membership, so our lives and money and needs are met into perpetuity to sustain the lives of the Tribal membership for many years to come. Change is good but in what direction is best for Tribal membership.
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