Archives West Finding Aid

Mr. Appah (b. 1931) discusses his family tribal affiliations, naming customs, the effect of white contact on Indian traditions, his military experience in Korea, Douglas MacArthur, and the Ute language. He also talks about being on the tribal council, his father's leadership abilities, the Central Utah Project, and the issue of tribal affiliation of mixed-blood Indians. 66 pages

Mrs. Black (b. 1935) talks about her parents, relatives, the values she was taught, childhood memories, traditional Indian culture, and the Native American Church. She also discusses her experiences on the tribal council, the Central Utah Project, Senator Moss, water rights, and issues related to official membership on the tribal rolls. 64 pages

Mr. Chapoose (b. 1937) tells about his parents and grandparents, the decline of the extended family in tribal culture, picking crops as a young boy, life on the reservation, and attending school at White Rocks. He also discusses alcohol, his experiences in the Navy, the college of Southern Utah, being unemployed in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, and how he became involved in tribal affairs. Other subjects covered are the Central Utah Project, the tribal council, the enrollment controversy, tribal jurisdiction, unemployment, and his views on the future of the tribe. Chapoose also talks about his son, his wife, and various tribal members. 87 pages

Mr. Chapoose (b. 1920) discusses growing up near Fort Duchesne, the Wheeler-Howard Act of 1934, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the experience of being a mixed-blood, the American Indian Movement, tribal enrollment, and joining the LDS Church. 41 pages

Mr. Cuch (b. 1951) recollects his childhood and schooling near Fort Duchesne, education, medicine men Jensen Jack and Eddy Box, religion (including the LDS and Catholic Churches, the Sun Dance, and the sweat lodge), Wasatch Academy, the death of his mother, and Gestalt therapy. 55 pages

Jason Cuch (b. 1924) talks about growing up on a farm near Fort Duchesne, Indian healers, education, the experience of being in the army, Indian religion, Roddy McDowell, the Partition Act, tribal enrollment, serving on the tribal business committee, land allotments, and water rights. He also talks about the Bureau of Indian affairs, conflicting ideas of younger and older committee members, and giving advice. 76 pages

Mr. Duncan (b. 1933) of the White River Band, explains the political and cultural climate in which band membership is determined. He recalls his childhood on the White Rocks River and going to boarding school. He also talks about traditional ways of looking at the world, oil reserves on the reservation, tribal politics, and racial stereotypes. Duncan discusses religion (including Sun Dance chiefs, the Ghost Dance, and peyote ceremonies), and the relationship between Indian peoples and the United States government. 108 pages

Mr. Duncan continues his discussion of tribal politics and the membership status of mixed-blood persons. He returns to the subject of religion, touching on the Mormon, Episcopalian, and Native American Churches. 25 pages

Mr. Gardner (b. 1931 or 1932) discusses his mixed parentage, his experiences in the armed forces, going "back to the blanket," and being relocated to Denver. He talks about the difficulty of retaining a sense of self in white society, and describes his work for television station KUTV in Salt Lake City. He speculates on the reasons for the high rate of alcoholism among Native Americans, talks about the sweat lodge, and explains why he walked out of the Sun Dance. Gardner also talks about the problems of being a "breed," and the enrollment controversy. 48 pages

Mrs. Grant recalls growing up in her uncle's family and being sent to school in Riverside, California, where she learned English. She supported her children by doing housework in Denver. 42 pages

Mrs. Iorg (b. 1912) recalls her childhood near Fort Duchesne, Utah. Among her recollections are a story about a visit to her grandfather by Butch Cassidy, the termination controversies, and issues surrounding being a mixed-blood. 63 pages

Mr. Jack (b. 1927) of the White River Band, recalls his childhood and attending day school at White Rocks. He also talks about traveling to various tribes in the United States, the Sun Dance, attending medicine council, and the sweat lodge. Jack discusses being seriously injured in an automobile accident and his recovery. 51 pages

Mrs. Kurip (b. 1948) recalls growing up in the Ouray area of the reservation among traditional cattle and sheep-owning families. She talks of working as a counselor for the Uintah school district and volunteering to help get out the Ute Bulletin. She discusses the enrollment controversy and her views on retaining traditional values in white society. 27 pages

Mr. McCook (b. 1945) recalls his early childhood with his grandmother, his first contact with the public education system in the fourth grade, his subsequent struggles in white society, his return to traditional life, participation in the Sun and Bear Dances, his experience as a foster child in a Mormon family, traveling among various tribes, being in the army and in prison, and the Native American Brotherhood. He also discusses transactional analysis, how he has adjusted to prison, and his goals after his release. 28 pages

Mr. McKinley (b.1920) discusses his family, band and tribal history from the late 19th century. His grandfather, Charlie Shavanaux, was the leader of a band located around present-day Montrose, Colorado. He talks about kinship, leadership, inter-band conflict, and the removal of the Utes to the reservation. McKinley also reminisces about his childhood, schooling, and his involvement with tribal government. He talks about native religion, healing ceremonies, and the Sun and Bear Dances. He goes into great detail on the enrollment of mixed-bloods into the tribe, and the subsequent efforts to terminate their membership. 86 pages

Mr. Murray (b. 1909) recalls attending government schools at White Rocks and in Lawrence, Kansas. He speaks about the termination of the mixed-bloods from the Uintah band and about retaining his Indian identity in the face of termination. Murray also discusses spirituality, Christianity, sweat lodge ceremony, talking with spirits, his connections with the Mormon Church, and learning to follow a path in life. He recalls stories told by his parents and grandparents about Indian-White conflict and discusses his personal difficulties with the white world. He also talks about traditional Indian political structure, and his experiences with the council. 205 pages

Mr. "Chunky" Murray (b. 1940) recalls going to the White Rocks boarding school, being raised by his grandfather, and belonging to a Los Angeles gang during his teen years. He passes along family tales of Butch Cassidy and Frank and Jesse James, and talks about being a deputy sheriff. 43 pages

Mrs. Murray (b. 1914) talks about the sweat lodge and recalls meeting her husband at a Bear Dance. She reminisces about her childhood, family and tribal traditions, and the termination controversy. 48 pages

Mr. Parashonts (b. 1953) recalls taking care of his mother, who was a Piute from the Cedar City area, while he was in junior high. When she got too sick for him to care for he was put in a foster home in Milford, where he went to high school. He went on a mission for the LDS Church. When he returned he was elected chairman of his band and became involved in tribal politics. He recalls working with Senator Orrin Hatch to get Piute bands restored on the tribal roles, and with several Utah politicians regarding tribal lands. 62 pages

This interview contains remarks by three women of the Pawwinnee family--Elise, Nancy, and Ruth. In addition to childhood memories and recollections of life on the reservation and in boarding school, the women discuss religion, language, the Sun and Bear Dances, raising sheep and cattle, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, mixed-bloods, intermarriage, and the termination controversy. 78 pages

Mrs. Pawwinnee (b. 1910) recalls her childhood in Ouray, Colorado. She discusses Ute naming customs, beadwork, basket weaving, and traditional customs. 17 pages

Mr. Pike (b. 1943) was the tribal council representative for the Uncompahgre Band at the time of this interview in 1986. He recalls growing up in the community of Myton, his experiences in the army, and having to work to remain fluent in the Ute language. He discusses raising horses, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, tribal affairs, and the misuse of tribal resources. 45 pages

Mr. Pinnecoose discusses oil leases, mineral rights, and policies governing drilling on the reservation. 37 pages

Mrs. Reed (b. 1935) outlines her genealogy, family stories of Brigham Young, and her early life in Fort Duchesne. She reminisces about her grandfather, Henry Harris, who was often involved in negotiations between various government agencis and the tribe. She recalls going to the meetings when the question of termination was being discussed. Also included are her memories of meeting her husband at a Sun Dance, stories of their courtship and marriage, and her ideas on childrearing. The interview ends with her detailing of a family tragedy, a discussion of religion and the LDS Church, and her feelings about becoming an elder. 170 pages

Mrs. Wardle (b. 1906) recounts her childhood memories of Salt Lake City and recalls her life as a white person among Indians. She talks about her marriage, cattle ranching, and finding an old Indian burial site on ranch property. She also shares her memories of the Bear Dance and Sun Dance. 76 pages

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