The Ute Indians of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico

by Virginia McConnell Simmons

Using government documents, archives, and local histories, Simmons has painstakingly separated the often repeated and often incorrect hearsay from more accurate accounts of the Ute Indians.

Genres: History, Native American History, Research, Nonfiction

346 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and important book, but it was boring too. It's a play by play of the Ute/Settler history and the story of the Ute Tribes dealings the US government. Only read it if you're interested in the subject, but if you are it can't be beat. At almost a thousand pages I skimmed a lot, but it was fascinating and very well-written. Just long and very detailed.

[Frank Haug · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book last summer when we went to Vernal Utah and Dinosaur national monument. It took me a while to get to it and read it, but I am glad I did. Initially, I was going to give it three stars, as it is a little tough to get through. It is not a "pop" type history. There is very little in the way of trying to make the history more interesting or engaging, and the writing is not particularly engaging either. However, it was detailed, covered lots of important individuals and events. It reads more like a catalogue of events and people and places. Still, as I thought about it, I am not sure it intended to be anything else, and so is true to form for people looking for a book that just lays out sort of methodically the history of the Utes.

I liked the parts about the San Luis Valley, and many places around Colorado and Utah I am familiar with. Interesting stories and characters for sure.

It also is sad how awful the Utes were treated. So many broken promises and poor treatment. The book does a good job of not painting either the white settlers or the Utes as black and white figures, but seems to give a relatively neutral account of the situations.

[Off Service Book Recs · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Ute Indians of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico" is a carefully and painstakingly recorded account of the Ute Indian Tribe as corroborated by interviews, government documents, archives, and local resources. It is an incredibly well-researched account and provides a wealth of information about the history of the Ute Indians and the various tribes they composed, culminating several hundred years of recorded history into a neat work.

I thought this was a well-researched piece, and I picked it up because I completed a rotation in Ute territory and wanted to learn more about the tribe and the people. I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in historical documentation, the Ute Indians, and American History specifically; I think this work is a tad academic for the general reader and I myself was hoping for more of a cultural lens for this work, but nonetheless think it's a great book.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative on migration, treaties, and southwestern history. It's alot of information. I found the Colorado history very interesting and learned a little about settlers actions like Colfax, Teller, etc. as well as learning about Spaniards in New Mexico and thier interactions with the Utes as well. It helps to know the regions to get an idea of how vast the territory Utes occupied. I wished there was a bit more info on the culture but it was a good educational read.

[Ranette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about the Ute Indians of the western plateu. Their habits, food, travel and family lives.

[Ian Billick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Moved along. Nice photos. Good context.

[Michelle Schulten · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of historical information.

[Garn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've found on the history of the Utes. Always looking for more information on tribal histories in the American West.

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Exhaustive!

[LAB · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the few comprehensive descriptions of the Ute people in Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico, this book is a must read for anthropologists, ethnobotanists, geographers, historians, and archaeologists who desire more than the typical brushover provided by local writers (but see As If the Land Owned Us by Robert McPherson for another excellent discussion of Ute history). The author provides social and political history, use of the landscape, and many other features of Ute life as the people practiced their traditional ways in the face of advancing Anglo encroachment. This is a key book on my reference shelf.

[Yaaresse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of information clearly presented in a fairly slim volume. I thought it was a little dry in the beginning, but maybe that's because the author was covering information I already knew and without adding anything substantive to basic geographic information. Once I got past the detailed descriptions of land features, I found it more interesting and useful. Still, that information really did need to be in the book for it to fully cover the topic. For someone reading it who isn't familiar with the area or who wants a refresher in the geology and timelines, his/her mileage will vary.