Ute Sacred Trees

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

A Ute Elder

I found this beautiful passage written by a Ute Elder explaining what scarred trees are to the Ute people, “The trees tell who we are as Ute people. As a child I heard of the trees that were used in ceremonies to bless our people but not actually seen them. The shape of the trees has significance and the rope used to tie them down is believed to be yucca and when it is ties it leaves a ring of scaring in the tree trunk and is visible and evident that a human being made the tie. Next summer I had planned to bring a group of our youth to witness the trees and make their offering. Your area is our ancestral homeland. Celinda (a woman advocating to save the trees), please on our behalf of our children make the plea to save the trees. I ask the creator to watch over us all and help those in authority to understand the need to preserve those things that are sacred to us.” ~Heather Celinda Reynolds Kaelin, . n. page. .

Monday, January 27, 2014

Introduction of Medicine Trees

Hey, Heather here! I have begun researching the Medicine Trees of the Utes, as far as I know, this information barley scratches the surface, so feel free to have fun learning more on your own and I will keep you updated when I find out more!!! The 1st person to ever record a medicine tree was named Lt. E.H. Ruffner. In 1873, Ruffner was doing a report on Secretary of War for United States Corps of Engineers. He found an area near camp 45 (between Lake City and Cochetopa Pass). The area was populated by yellow Pine, "This pine is at largest 12 to 18 inches diameter, forty to sixty feet high. Here and there an old tree has escaped Indian knives and grown much larger…The trail is well worn, and the peeled trees show that the valley has been much frequented by Indians, but none of them had been peeled within a year or two.” If one were to see an Ute Medicine Tree, they would assume that the scars were caused by an itchy bear or a lightning strike. However, they were created by the native inhabitants of our beautiful state. The peices of inner bark pealed off of the pine were tied into bundles and later eaten with salt. ~Heather Celinda Reynolds Kaelin, . n. page. .

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Expedition to Fox Run

These are some Ute trees that I found in Fox Run Regional Park.

Ute Medicine Tree. Fox Run Regional Park. © Katherine's Eye

-Sage

Introduction

This is a website for History Day at my school. My friend and I are doing our project on Ute Culturally Scarred Trees or Ute Sacred Trees as they are otherwise known. Please enjoy viewing our progress. -Sage