U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper took to the Senate floor Tuesday to deliver a speech honoring the legacy of Ute Mountain Ute Chairman Manuel Heart.
“Chairman Heart is retiring after a long and remarkably successful career serving the Ute Mountain Ute people,” Hickenlooper said during his four-minute remarks.
Heart steps down after nearly three decades on the Tribal Council, leaving his seat to newly elected Chairman Selwyn Whiteskunk.
The retiring chairman attributed his decision to a desire for rest and to spend more time with family – including 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren – while leaving room for a new generation of tribal leaders who will be sworn in Friday. Much work remains ahead for the tribe of more than 2,000 members, Heart told The Journal after the tribe’s Oct. 10 election.
Hickenlooper said Heart’s 27 years on Tribal Council and 15 years as chairman “will undoubtedly leave thousands of lives better off.”
“He struck that delicate balance between preserving and investing in Ute culture, and securing more resources by navigating intergovernmental relationships to make sure to deliver to the needs of his community,” Hickenlooper said.
The senator noted among Heart’s successes expanding Ute Mountain Utes access to water and “improving the tribe’s health, safety and education.”
As an example, Hickenlooper referred to Heart’s spearheading of federal funds used for the building of the tribe’s Kwiyagat Community Academy, which opened in 2021.
“In my years in service in Colorado – as a mayor first, but then as a governor – I can think of very few leaders that have been as successful and insightful and as diligent as Chairman Heart.”
“I know that his deep commitment and his love for the Ute people, for the Ute community, is not gonna end now as he steps down as chairman. He will continue to be a leader in his community and in the state of Colorado.”
