Ute Tribal Blessing
| January 21, 2008 |
The Ute Tribe will return to Sunlight on Monday, January 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the annual dance and blessing of the mountain and surrounding lands.
At one time, the Rocky Mountain region was Ute Country. Many Ute ancestors lived throughout the Roaring Fork Valley as evidenced by burials and long-known harvesting areas and campsites. In fact, Glenwood Springs’ healing, hot mineral water was known to be one of Chief Colorow’s favorite places.
After traveling through the mountains, the Chief returned to the hot springs to find the pool of water had been claimed and fenced off by miners and other people. The Utes lost their land, causing historical trauma which still affects the tribe.
On Monday, January 21, Loya Arrum and family will return to Sunlight to bless the mountain and enjoy the land their ancestors once occupied. The dance performance is at 11am on the deck outside the resort lodge. The public is invited to enjoy the colorful ceremony free of charge.
For more information, visit www.sunlightmtn.com or www.utetribe.com.
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I am trying to find the name the Utes called the Glenwood hot springs. Some sources say Yampah, but others say no. Anyone know? Thank you!
March 25th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I found this information for you…it is from http://geoheat.oit.edu/pdf/bulletin/bi038.pdf. Let me know if you have any other questions!
“For centuries, prior to the coming of white settlers, American Indians came to this spot to relax and heal their wounds. They would soak in the warm waters by the Colorado River, or use nearby caves as a natural sauna. The Ute Indian tribe controlled the area until the late 1800’s. Often they fought with the Comanche and Arapaho tribes over the use of the hot springs. The Utes called the natural hot springs “Yampah”, meaning “Big Medicine”, and sanctified the spot to their great god “Manitou.””
March 25th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Here is another resource… http://www.hotspringspool.com/pool/history.html.