NORTHERN UTE MUSIC 
By Frances DENSMORE 
THE UTE INDIANS * 
TRIBAL NAME.—The word Ute is of disputed origin. In the early 
treaties with the United States Government and in reports of the 
Commissioner of Indian Affairs prior to the year 1859 the Indians 
now known as Utes were called Utahs. 
Hisrory.—The Ute (or Utah) Indians formerly occupied the entire 
central and western portions of Colorado and the eastern part of 
Utah, including the eastern part of Salt Lake Valley and the Utah 
Valley. On the south they extended into New Mexico, occupying 
much of the upper drainage of the San Juan.’ The first treaty 
between the Government of the United States and these Indians was 
proclaimed September 9, 1850.° The treaty opens thus: 
“The following articles have been duly considered and solemnly 
adopted by the undersigned; that is to say, James S. Calhoun, Indian 
agent, residing at Santa Fe, acting commissioner on the part of the 
United States of America [here follow 26 names], principal and sub- 
ordinate chiefs, representing the Utah tribe of Indians. 
“T. The Utah tribe of Indians do hereby acknowledge and declare 
they are lawfully and exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Gov- 
ernment of said States, and to its power and authority they now 
unconditionally submit.” 
A treaty with the Tabequache band of Utah Indians, proclaimed 
December 14, 1864,’ indicates some progress on the part of these 
Indians, as it closes with the following clause: ‘‘The Government also 
agrees to establish and maintain a blacksmith shop and employ a 
competent blacksmith for the purpose of repairing the guns and agri- 
cultural implements which may be used by said Indians.”’ 
In 1868 a treaty was made with the ‘‘confederated bands of the 
Ute Nation” by which they received a large tract of land in the Ter- 
4This description of the Ute Indians is intended to assist the reader in a Sympathetic understanding 
of the material which follows, and should not be understood as offering exhaustive information on the 
several headings. 
6 Handbook of American Indians, Bull. 30, Bur. Amer. Ethn., pt. 2, pp. 874-876, Washington, 1910. 
6Compilation of Treaties between the United States and the Indian Tribes. Washington, D. C., 
1873, pp. 968-970. x 
7 Tbid., pp. 970-974. 
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