We gratefully acknowledge we gather on the land of the Uncompahgre band of the Ute Nation, or Nuche, past and present. We honor this land and the people who lived in harmony with the natural world for generations before their forced removal. We are committed to sharing the complete history of the land, recognizing and partnering with Native Peoples, and supporting the advancement of Native places and heritage. This calls us all to be better stewards of the land we inhabit and the natural resources we benefit from today.

Ute on horseback circa 1900.
Aspen Historical Society, Masterson Estate Collection

Pronunciations and Etymology

Uncompaghre (/ənkəmˈpɑːɡreɪ/); Ute language: Aka’-páa-gharʉrʉ Núuchi and Ahkawa Pahgaha Nooch; translation: rocks that make water red[1]

Ute (/juːt/); origin unknown, likely created by invading Spaniards to describe the original Americans they encountered[2]

Nuche (nuʧ); Ute language: Núuchi-u, Nooch; translation: the people[3] and people of substance [4]