Ute tribal-council member dies at 54

Ute tribal-council member dies at 54

November 29, 2001

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

Ute Mountain Ute tribal council member Eddie Dutchie Jr., who died of unexpected heart complications on Nov. 21, was laid to rest during funeral ceremonies in Blanding, Utah, Tuesday. He was 54.

Dutchie Jr. represented the White Mesa community, a satellite band of the Ute Mountain tribe located in southeast Utah.

Services held at the LDS church attracted more than 200 mourners, funeral officials said. Later on, graveside ceremonies were conducted by Ute cultural specialist Terry Knight.

Bear Dances were performed and a Ute drumming group, the Allen Canyon Singers, sang traditional memorial songs to the beat of ancient rhythms. Family and friends then gathered at the White Mesa recreation center to honor Dutchie Jr.

"He will be missed very much," said Mary Jane Yazzie, chairperson of an independent White Mesa governing board. "His constant dedication made good things happen for our community."

Dutchie Jr. had recently been re-elected to the tribal council for his sixth consecutive term. At council meetings, he lobbied for White Mesa infrastructure and education. On the street in White Mesa, he encouraged young people to take advantage of tribal scholarship funds and enroll in the nearby San Juan Junior College at Blanding.

Under his tenure, White Mesa’s 200 or so residents gained a new water tank and piping, a new Head Start school, five new HUD homes and a travel center.

The image of Dutchie reclining way back in his chair while pondering issues at council meetings was a familiar sight. Friends said he was a good listener and advocate for American Indian culture.

He was instrumental in the successful organization of cultural events, co-workers said. Under his leadership, the White Mesa pow-wow and Bear Dance grounds were recently upgraded to include night lighting, drinking water and vendor stalls.

"He always made sure things went well so that attending the Bear Dance was easier for people here and those coming in from out of town," Yazzie said. "That cultural tradition was very important to him."

His commitment to public service especially assured that the remote reservation community of White Mesa received adequate funding from the Ute Mountain government, which is centralized in Towaoc.

"We had so many plans and many things to look forward to," Yazzie said. "We will follow what he started by handling things the way he would have wanted."

Dutchie Jr. also served in Vietnam. He was part of the distinct Allen Canyon band of Ute people.

A special election will be held in February to fill his seat on the Ute Mountain Ute tribal council.