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. .