- Montezuma County commissioners publicly state their support for the manager of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
- Ute Mountain Ute Tribe voices support for Colorado commission to study the use of American Indian mascots by public schools.
The Montezuma County commissioners are publicly stating their support for the manager of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument west of Cortez. In a letter to the state director of the Bureau of Land Management dated and approved Monday, they call Marietta Eaton “a very capable manager and adept at interpreting and enforcing BLM policy and federal laws.” They write that although they do not like BLM policy and are frequently at odds with the agency, they believe Eaton brings to the table “reasonableness, fairness, and the ability to follow the law without letting her own agenda get in the way.” In the letter, the commissioners take a swipe at the conservation community, saying it “is very vociferous when they don’t get their way with things.” On Monday, county federal lands coordinator James Dietrich said the letter was written because Eaton has come under “heavy criticism” lately. Attorney John Baxter asked jokingly whether the county’s support would help her – or guarantee her termination.
The chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is voicing support for a commission that will be created by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s office to study the use of American Indian mascots by public schools. Manuel Heart tells KSJD the effort stemmed from a suggestion he made at a meeting of the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs. He says the idea is for people affiliated with tribes to travel to the schools in question to explain why their mascots may be derogatory. Heart says there are no such mascots remaining in far Southwest Colorado after Fort Lewis College in Durango changed from the Raiders to the Skyhawks in 1994. The closest is probably the Indians of Montrose High School. Heart says not all American Indian mascots disturb him, but the use of war bonnets is particularly offensive because such headdresses traditionally were given only to men who earned them through courageous acts. Heart says, “For somebody to wear a bonnet to a football game and play with it is offensive.” Mascots that honor a particular tribe, such as the Utah Utes or Florida Seminoles, are generally acceptable. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council will be discussing who will represent the tribe on the commission.
