A display of historic Ute photos

The Southern Ute Culture Department will soon be sharing over 250 historic Ute photos with the public. The event was made possible through collaboration between History Colorado and the three Ute tribes.

According to Culture Director, Elise Redd, History Colorado sent the tribes historic Ute photos from their archives to share. History Colorado also asked for any help with identifying the photos.

“These pictures are from History Colorado and there may be pictures [tribal members] may have never see before,” Redd said. [Tribal members] can come look at them, and if they know someone in the photo, we’d like them to identify who it is.”

The Cultural Department will be displaying the photos on the Saturday of Bear Dance – Saturday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. And according to Redd, the photos may not all be of Southern Ute’s, but will most likely being a mixture of all three Ute tribes.

“I think the membership would enjoy seeing their history, their family and ancestors and getting a chance to see whom they recognize … and see the clothing they wore and how they lived,” she said.

The event will be held inside the Southern Ute Cultural Center & Museum’s Small and Large Classrooms. Guests can expect to see photos displayed on the walls and in books on tables, Redd said.

The photo display is apart of a new trend of events the Culture Department has been hosting around Bear Dance for the last two years, she said.

“Every year we do something different, two years ago Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) came and filmed elders and we also hosted a Ute language conference. Last year, we hosted a mini NAGPRA conference and a Ute Social. So this is our event for this year.”

Redd said this event is right on line with the Department’s mission and hopes tribal members take advantage of the opportunity to view the photos.

Also on display will be finished quilts from a recent quilt-making class Culture hosted. Other tribal members that have a quilt they made, and wish to display at the event are encouraged to do so, Redd said. The last day to turn in your finished quilt into the Culture Department is May 15.

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