Paiute of Utah - Utah(U.S.)

Native American

Last modified: 2012-11-17 by rick wyatt
Keywords: paiute | utah | native american |
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image by Donald Healy, 22 January 2008

• The band
• The flag

See also:

• Index to North American Native Bands and Nations
• Utah
• United States of America

The Band

map image by Peter Orenski based on input from Don Healy

Paiute of Utah - Utah

Located in the southwestern corner of the state of Utah, the Paiute Tribe of Utah combines five Paiute bands: the Cedar, Koosharem, Shivwits, Kanosh, and Indian Peaks Bands. These bands, numbering some 600 individuals, represent only a small portion of the Paiute Nation, which spreads across much of the West to include Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon as well as Utah (REAI, 33, 41). Their name has been translated to mean either "Water Utes" or "True Utes" alluding to their past union as one people with that Tribe (ENAT, 174-176).

© Donald Healy 2008

The Flag

The flag of the Paiute Tribe of Utah is white with the tribal seal in the center in red and white. That seal was adopted by tribal resolution 97-20 on 13 May 1997 and signed into law by General Anderson, the tribal chairwoman. The seal already had been used on the floor of the tribal gymnasium and had been incorporated into the Tribe's new headquarters in Cedar City, Utah.

That seal is a ring of two lines. On it an eagle, symbolic of the deity, flies in front of a map of Utah. In the southwestern corner an arrowhead pinpoints the Tribe's location (the Paiute are especially known for their arrowheads). To the left of the eagle are a pair of gourd rattles which represent the Paiute's Salt song and Bird song. To the right is a hand-held drum which represents the Circle Dance song and the Hand Games song. At the base of the map are three "hand game" sticks. The seal was designed by Paiute tribal member Travis Parashonts at the request of the Paiute Tribal Council.

Hanging from the seal, making it resemble a warrior's shield, are five decorated feathers for the five bands. Arching above the top is the official name "Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah". Inside the shield, below the "hand game" sticks, is "Federally Recognized April 3, 1980", showing the paramount importance of that event to the Tribe.

© Donald Healy 2008
information provided by Peter Orenski, 22 January 2008