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AUGUST 10, 2000

The two fires which have burned the Mesa Verde National Park and the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in Colorado are bringing together the tribe with park officials in another chapter of their their long and sometimes contentious history.

Land belonging to and used by the Ute Tribe was taken by the government, first by lease, then by law, to form the national park. A mistake in 1911 resulted in the Utes being "traded" an important part of the national park for land they already owned.

The tribe has its own version of a park showcasing archaeological sites but it doesn't receive as many visitors as Mesa Verde.

The tribe and the park are now working together to share research on the sites uncovered by the two recent fires.

Get the Story:
Anger part of Mesa Verde's history (The Denver Post 8/10)

Related Stories:
Fire threatens sacred artifacts (8/8)
Fire threatens park again (Enviro 8/7)
New fire sparks on reservation (Enviro 8/4)
Mesa Verde fire nearly contained (Enviro 7/28)
Indian firefighters skirt law (Enviro 07/31)
Rain could threaten Mesa Verde (Enviro 7/27)
Mesa Verde fire slows down (Enviro 7/26)
Mesa Verde fire grows, nears ruins (Enviro 7/25)
Fire threatens reservation, ruins (Enviro 7/24)
Fire burns Pueblo land (Enviro 7/24)

Relevant Links:
The Pony Fire Site - www.pnw-team3.com
The Pony Fire Site, Information - www.fs.fed.us/r2/fire/pony/pony.htm
The National Interagency Fire Center - www.nifc.gov
Mesa Verde National Park - www.nps.gov/meve/