Chronology of the Ute Tribe
In this section this is the chronology of the Ute people
1598
Spanish trade begins with Utes
1626
Spanish scribe in New Mexico writes first account of Utes
1640
Mouache and Capote bands acquire the horse from Spanish (The Utes have first call on horses from the spanish)
1650-60
Each of the seven Ute bands holdwell-defined territory
1670
(2 events)
*Acquisition of the horse allows Utes to travel in large bands
*Spanish officials conclude first pease tready with the Utes
1760-70
Utes grant Spain the right to trade up the Gunnison River
1776
Dominguez and Escalante expedition travels through Ute territory
1811
American fur trappers encounter Utes
1819
Adams-Otis Treaty sets Spanish-American boundaries along upper Arkansas River
1821
(2 events)
*Mexico gains independence from Spain and part of present Colorado becomes Mexican domain
*William Bucknell opens Santa Fe Trail: passage of goods through Ute territory becomes common
1828
Robidoux builds Fort Uncompahgre on Gunnison River in the heart of Ute country
1833
Ouray born near Taos
1834
Bent, St Vrain and Company completes Bent's Fort on Arkansas River
1842
Fort Pueblo settlement founded
1844
Fort Uncompahgre on Gunnison destroyed by Utes
1848
Tready of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican-American War.New Mexico and southern Colorado ceded to U.S.
1849
First U.S. treaty with Utes made in Albuquerque, New Mexico: Utes acknowledge U.S. authority while U.S. agrees to pay the Utes $5,000 per year to keep the peace
1850
First Ute agencies established in Taos
1852
Fort Massachusetts built in San Luis Valley as military garrison to control and protect Utes
1854
Utes attack and distroy Fort Pueblo
1855
(2 events)
*Col. Thomas Fauntleroy and U.S. Troops defeat Utes at Poncha Springs
*Peace treaty concludes U.S.- Ute War
1858
Fort Garland replaces Fort Massachusetts as military post in San Luis Valley
1859
The great Colorado Gold Rush begins
1859-79
Ute population falls from 8,000 to 2,000 due to disease and diminished hunting grounds
1861
Territory of Colorado created
1863
Tabeguache cedes San Luis Valley to U.S.
1868
Utes confined to western third of Colorado Territory by treaty
1871
Denver Indian's agency setablished to provide Utes with food
1873
(2events)
*Gold and silver rush occurs in San Juan Mountains
*Utes cede San Juan mining area to U.S.; one-fourth of their remaining land
1878
(2 events)
*Fort Lewis established at Pagosa Springs to protect and control Utes
*Nathan Meeker named Ute agent at White River
1879
(2 events)
*En route to White River agency, Major Thornburgh and 13 men killed in Ute attack
*At White River agency, Meeker and 11 others killed by Utes
1880
(4events)
*Ouray goes to Washington, D.C. for treaty negotiations
*Ouray dies at 47 years of age
*Uncompahgre , Yampa, White River, and Grand River Utes forced out of Colorado into eastern Utah
*Reservation established in southwestern Colorado for Southern Utes, a 15 by 100 mile strip of land
1881
Delta and Grand Junction founded on former Ute lands
1887
Colorow leads White River Utes of old Colorado hunting grounds prompting attack by cowboy posse
1888
U.S. takes more Ute lands, paying $50,000 to be divided among the Southern Utes
1895
Hunter Act repeals 1888 treaties and establishes permanent reservation as outlined by 1880 treaties
1896
Land allotments distributed to Southern Utes
1906
Agreement to trade Utesout of Mesa Verde National Park for land on Utah border
1910
Ignacio founded
1918
Consolidated Ute Indian Reservation established
1924
American Indians became U.S. citizens
1934
Wheeler- Howard Act inaugurates the "Indian New Deal"
1936
(2 events)
*Buckskin Charlie, one of the last traditional cheifs dies at 96
*Southern Utes adopt a constitution and tribal council
1937
Restoration Act returns 222,000 acres to Southern Utes
1938
30,000 acres returned to Ute Mountain Utes
1950
U.S. Court of Claims awards the Confederated Bands of Colorado and Utah almost $32 million
1971
Chief Jack House dies- the last traditional cheif of the Utes
1986-88
Back
