Some homes on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s White Mesa community in Utah were constructed in the 1960s, and many now require significant repairs. Needed work includes infrastructure replacement, electrical upgrades and repairs to cracked propane lines.
Those White Mesa residences face unique environmental challenges, including corrosive and unstable soils that cause foundations to crack, as well as severe moisture that can lead to mold.
Tribal leaders will be able to rehabilitate 10 to 15 homes after receiving a $2.25 million grant through the Native American Housing Initiative grants program from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.
Leaders of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe met Tuesday for an hourslong regular session to discuss community initiatives and legislative decisions. The council approved a resolution accepting the grant, which prioritizes home renovations for community members, specifically elders, veterans and people with disabilities.
The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, requiring deliverables to be met and paperwork submitted before reimbursements are issued in increments. Director of planning and development Bernadette Cuthair said grant money from the Colorado Housing Finance Authority will be used to cover upfront costs.
Cuthair presented the resolution to accept the funds, noting the program would only seek reimbursement if the money is not used for its approved scope or eligible purpose. The grant allocates about $145,000 to $226,000 in repairs per home.
Another primary focus of the session was the Generation Wild program. Through a Great Outdoors Colorado award, the tribe is one of 15 communities receiving $900,000 over five years to support programs that connect youth and families to the outdoors. The goal is to expand culturally relevant experiences and job and leadership opportunities.
Raylene House, director of the Recreation Center, presented a resolution allowing the tribe to use the Generation Wild trademark and logo. It is part of the larger five-year grant, with the tribe currently in its first year after receiving the award last fall.
Councilman Alston Turtle said growing up on the reservation, he saw the tribe prioritize youth engagement, something he said was “really important” to him.
“I’m a firm believer that when kids aren’t occupied during downtime – whether it’s spring break, winter break or summer – they can get into things they shouldn’t,” Turtle told the other leaders.
“We want to make sure kids have an outlet through activities like this, especially social opportunities,” he said. “We talk about culture and tradition, and we’re seeing some of our older hunters starting to pass on. How do we get more young people interested in that?”
Turtle said he hopes the program can incorporate the historical significance of hunting in Ute culture. He also emphasized the importance of involving other communities, noting challenges with participation.
“We’ve kind of run into a wall – there’s not a lot of participation out there,” he said. “We have a lot of good programs, but how do we better engage our tribal membership?”
Continued engagement is key, Turtle said, with each program playing a meaningful role in shaping not only the next stage of children’s lives, but also other age groups, including middle-aged adults, elders and descendants.
“It is a great opportunity … the things we do with the kiddos today, it leaves an impression on them,” he said. “Because the society we live in today is really confined, and I don’t like that.”
The council unanimously approved the logo resolution.
awatson@the‑journal.com
