Ute Indians I — Aboriginal and Historical Groups of the Ute Indians of Utah: An Analysis With Supplement
This document presents an historical reconstruction of Ute ethnography based on archaeological evidence, early historical accounts and inference (p. 99). The bulk of the data in the document deal with economic geography, aboriginal land use, social and political organization and the effects of the introduction of the horse on various social institutions, as viewed from the pre-horse and post-horse perspectives. Steward notes that in terms of political organization, especially in the pre-horse period, the Utes had no clearcut units. Villages were composed of loose aggregates of families, while anything larger involving multi-village groupings, lacked sufficient interest on the part of the people to warrant definitive organization. Because of this, the term 'band' used throughout this document cannot be used in any absolute sense. Its general political application here is to submission to the same authority in certain kinds of activities. Using this definition as a base, the author provides much descriptive information on the Ute 'bands' called the Uintah, Yampa, White River, Tabeguache (Uncompahgre), Timpanogots, Cumum-Bah (Weber Utes), Pahvant, San Pete, Fish and Sheberetch.