From The Northern Utes of Utah by Clifford Duncan, Northern Ute Historian, Healer, Elder, stated, “Indian affairs in Utah were complicated by the mutual hostility of Mormon and federal officials. There was constant conflict as to who should administer Indian policy. In the conflict Congress neglected Utah and ignored the Indians. The United States government took over Utah without a single Ute land title settled and without any treaty of cession negotiated. Federal officials sent to Utah Territory began charging the Mormons with using their influence over the Indians against the interest of the government. And the Mormons were increasingly successful in their missionary efforts. However since the basic interest of the Mormons conflicted with those of the Ute people — the Mormons wanted the land the People occupied — conflict was inevitable. In 1854, Garland Hurt was appointed to the Utah Indian Agency. Soon after his arrival in 1855 he established three Ute Indian farms: Corn Creek, Twelve Mile Creek in Sanpete County and on the banks of the Spanish Fork River in Utah County.” (© Clifford Duncan)

Family Once Known on the Uintah Reservation Utah, 1874, Hillers Photograph, J.W. Powell Expedition, Courtesy of the Library of Congress — Family Once Known on the Uintah Reservation Utah, 1874
*Hillers Photograph, J.W. Powell Expedition, Courtesy of the Library of Congress*

Uintah Girl Once Known, Uintah Reservation Utah, 1874 , Hillers Photograph, J.W. Powell Expedition, Courtesy of the Library of Congress — Uintah Girl Once Known, Uintah Reservation Utah, 1874
*Hillers Photograph, J.W. Powell Expedition, Courtesy of the Library of Congress*

In 1861, responding to Mormon pressure, President Abraham Lincoln signed an executive order establishing the original Uintah Valley Reservation in the eastern part of the (Utah) territory. The reservation boundaries were simply defined as the entire valley of the Uinta River within Utah Territory. Congress ratified the order in 1864. Ute Indian Superintendent Oliver H. Irish was ordered to negotiate with the Utes to move them to the Uintah Reservation. A council of the Ute people was called at Spanish Fork Reservation on 6 June 1865. The aged leader Sowiette explained that the Ute people did not want to sell their land and go away, asking why the groups couldn’t live on the land together. Sanpitch also spoke against the treaty. However, advised by Brigham Young that these were the best terms they could get, the leaders signed.” (© Clifford Duncan)

The treaty provided that the Utes give up their lands in central Utah, including the Corn Creek, Spanish Fork, and San Pete Reservations (farms). Only the Uintah Valley Reservation remained. They were to move into it within one year, and be paid $25,000 a year for ten years, $20,000 for the next twenty years, and $15,000 for the last thirty years. This was payment of about 62.5 cents per acre for all land in Utah and Sanpete Counties. However, Congress did not ratify the treaty; therefor the government did not pay the promised annuity. Nevertheless, in succeeding years most of the Utah Ute people were removed to the Uintah Reservation. (© Clifford Duncan)

Report to the Senate, Uintah Valley Indian Reservation, 1888, Courtesy of the University of Oklahoma College of Law Digital Commons — Report to the Senate, Uintah Valley Indian Reservation, 1888
*Courtesy of the University of Oklahoma College of Law Digital Commons*

Uintah and Ouray Reservation Map, 1944, Courtesy of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee — Uintah and Ouray Reservation Map, 1944
*Courtesy of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee*

The Uncompahgre Reservation (later renamed Ouray) in Utah was established by executive order in January 1882, the Uncompahgres were shocked and dismayed. The bleak land could not have been more different from the lush mountain home they were forced to give up…The situation on the Uncompahgre Reservation was particularly difficult. To control the Uncompahgre, a military post, Fort Thornburgh, was built in 1881. It was abandoned in 1884. The reservation was not only remote but also bleak and dry. Only the valleys of the White, Green, and Duchene Rivers provided small relief in a huge wasteland. The turnover of agents was rapid and frequent. The problem of the boundary line strained relations between the whites and Utes. Fort Duchesne was established about midway between the Uintah and Ouray agencies to “discipline and control” the Utes. The Indian Office in 1886 consolidated the two Utah Ute agencies. Ouray was made a subagency, and the Uintah and Ouray Agency was established at Whiterocks. (© Clifford Duncan)