"Written on the Land" Opened Dec. 8, at History Colorado Center, Expanding the Understanding, History and Voices of Ute Tribes

DENVER, Dec. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In collaboration with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, History Colorado opened the exhibition Written on the Land: Ute Voices, Ute History at the History Colorado Center in Denver, on Dec. 8. The exhibit is well-timed to share stories that generate new knowledge and perspectives of the Ute people, Colorado's longest-continuous residents, and their role in Colorado culture ? knowledge that informs both new and longtime residents while bridging Ute history with modern-day Colorado. 

Written on the Land was created with input and guidance from more than 30 tribal representatives, who participated in many multi-day meetings to help develop the content. According to Shannon Voirol, director of exhibit planning at History Colorado and lead developer of the exhibit, "We wanted the stories to be told from the voices of the Ute tribe members, so these conversations were critical for creating meaningful, relevant content. After all, they are the storytellers."

The exhibit's planning period spanned four years for meeting with tribal representatives; creating the space; collecting contemporary artifacts from tribes; gathering and interpreting stories from tribes; and expanding on the stories from History Colorado's Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, Colo. Written on the Land is a long-term exhibit at the History Colorado Center, responding to ongoing requests from visitors and educators for more American Indian history and exhibits.

"This exhibit is just a small part, a sliver, of the story of the Ute people. There will always be so much more to learn and understand about our traditions and our future, especially how and why we did what we did in Ute culture in order to survive," shared Alden Naranjo, retired Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) coordinator and Southern Ute tribal historian, who participated in the planning meetings for the exhibit.

In comparison to other American Indian exhibits that only focus on the past, Written on the Land brings history to the present and talks about what contemporary lives look like for Ute tribal members. The comprehensive exhibit connects times periods through a mix of historic and contemporary artifacts, photographs and artwork and cutting-edge digital experiences ? honoring the tribes that help make up Colorado's ethnicity and influence U.S. history, both past and present.

"This exhibit presents authentic Ute voices and perspectives that have not always had a place in the dominant narrative, and in doing so it moves us closer to ensuring that Colorado's story is, in fact, our shared history," said Jason Hanson, chief creative officer and director of interpretation and research at History Colorado. "In sharing the Ute people's stories, we're setting the groundwork to form new relationships and have mutual appreciation for other groups to share their viewpoints and experiences with us."

SOURCE History Colorado