Ute Country - Ignacio
City Profile

Elevation: 6,445'
Population: 669
Average Midsummer Temperature: 80 / 47 degrees

The hub of Southern Ute Indian tribal life is in the community of Ignacio, which lies 24 miles southeast of Durango. Ignacio sits in beautiful, rolling terrain, and the town is a gateway to Navajo Lake from the west. Bordering Colorado and New Mexico, the Southern Ute Indian Reservation is a 15-mile-wide by 73-mile-long strip.

Following the Indian wars and the Meeker Massacre (September 29, 1879), the Federal Government set aside 720,000 acres from three counties for the Southern Utes. Everything changed, however, when the reservation opened up for homesteading in the late 1800s. Non-Indians settled most of the best farm, timber and range land, leaving only 411,000 acres for the tribe – a patchwork of land that now constitutes the reservation. This land has turned out to be among some of the most valuable land in La Plata County, owing to its richness in oil and gas.

Biker Festivities

The Sky Ute Event Center in Ignacio will hold several events during the Four Corners Rally in the Rockies, which is a gathering of motorcycle riders from all over the country. This year the Rally has plenty of fun, including a $10,000 Cruising for Cash run, two custom bikes as give-a-ways,
biker rodeo, bull riding, parade, tattoo contest, arm wrestling contest, Go-Go Girl cage dancing contest, pineapple pit wrestling featuring the Hollywood Knockouts, and pro male/female
wrestling. There will also be four days of concerts, including the headliner Guess Who, featuring the sounds of AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin through tribute bands that sound just like the originals. See the schedule at: www.rallyintherockies.com

Eagle's Nest at the Ute Mountain Tribal Park is tucked into a cliff. Guides interpret Ute pictographs, geological land formations, and Ancestral Pueblo petroglyphs, artifacts and dwellings. Call (970) 565-3751 x330 to arrange a tour or visit: www.utemountainute.com/tribalpark

Ute Country - Towaoc
City Profile

Elevation: 5,843'
Population: 1,097
Average Midsummer Temperature: 88 / 55 degrees

Occupying the northeast corner of the Four Corners, the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation offers visitors varied recreational opportunities. The Ute Mountain Casino near Towaoc ("toy-yock") provides an exciting gaming experience, with bingo, blackjack, poker, generous slots and a popular restaurant. Camping is available on site.

The Ute Mountain Tribal Park (left), rich in Ancestral Puebloan sites, occupies a portion of the mesa. Native American guides provide tours into the remote canyons, giving visitors a glimpse of the ruins sitting silent as they have for centuries. Meanwhile, on the plain to the west, Ute Farm and Ranch Enterprises is performing state-of-the-art agriculture to bring the desert into production and bring jobs and income to the tribe.

Handmade Ute Pottery

Ute Mountain Indian Pottery employs about 30 tribal members. The pieces of pottery are not only durable for everyday use, but are of museum quality for your collection. Pottery is poured by hand into ceramic molds, then turned and cleaned. Artists create their own original designs and sign each piece. The pottery is glazed by hand and fired in modern kilns. The result is a line of high-quality pottery that is one of the few truly Native American products available. The gallery is located 8 miles south of Cortez along Highway 160/666. Call (800) 896-8548 or visit: www.utemountainute.com/pottery

Special Events
Learn about Indian culture

May 27- June 5 – "Celebrating Our Song" Fifth Annual Mesa Verde Country Indian Arts and Western Culture Festival: The communities of Cortez, Dolores, Mancos and Towaoc, as well as Mesa Verde National Park will showcase the many cultural and archaeological gems of the area during this festival. The Cortez Cultural Center will offer Native American dances and cultural programs. The Morefield Campground Amphitheater at Mesa Verde will feature dances and art shows. The Anasazi Heritage Center near Dolores presents "Roads to the Past: 50 Years of New Mexico Highway Archaeology."

May 28 – Navajo Rug Seminar and Auction: Learn about the many styles of Navajo rugs, then browse through the many excellent
weavings brought to Mesa Verde from Navajo
Reservation artists. The event will be held
at the Farview Terrace at Mesa Verde.

June 4-5 – Bear Dance: Enjoy dancing, singing, games, and traditional foods in Towoac.

Visit: www.mesaverdecountry.com

Attractions

Chimney Rock Archaeological Area

This site lies on 3,160 acres of San Juan National Forest land surrounded by the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Hundreds of individual sites dot the landscape. Some sites have been excavated and studied, then reburied to protect them and the valuable information they hold. The Chimney Rock Hikes and Lifestyles Workshops give participants an opportunity to experience firsthand the environment, culture and lifestyle of the early people of Chimney Rock. Early people developed sophisticated skills to utilize the natural resources in the area for food, medicine, tools, clothing, baskets and pottery.

For specific information about tour times and workshop fees and requirements, call the Visitors' Cabin (970) 883-5359 mid-May through September or (970) 264-2268 during the off-season (October 1 to mid-May). Visit the Chimney Rock Archaeological Area's website at www.chimneyrockco.org

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

This monument contains the most dense concentration of archaeological sites in the nation. Over 6,000 archaeological sites (including dwellings, petroglyphs, hunting camps and shrines) have been recorded, and many more await documentation. The archaeological information contained in these sites holds evidence of cultures and traditions spanning thousands of years.

The monument is a rugged area intertwined with natural and cultural resources. The area is considered to be backcountry and has no permanent source of water, few roads and minimal facilities. Visitors are advised to bring water, fuel and maps. Visitors can protect the nation's cultural resources by remembering to follow archaeological site etiquette and "leave no trace" ethics. Visitors are asked to come to the Anasazi Heritage Center to get maps and information about places to visit in the monument. There are some accessible archaeological sites, but visitors need to get information from the Center to make their way through the network of gravel and dirt roads.

For more information call (970) 882-5600 or visit the website at www.co.blm.gov/canm