Click the link to read the article on the Fort Collins Coloradoan website (Natasha Lovato). Here’s an excerpt:
March 15, 2024
For a second year, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian Tribe addressed the General Assembly in their annual State of the Tribes. Signed into law in 2022, Tribal Governments Annual Address to Joint Session requires that any future speaker of the state House of Representatives and the president of the state Senate invite representatives from Colorado’s recognized tribes to give an address to a joint session of the General Assembly on an annual basis.
“The Native Ute people were here long before Colorado was a state, and they deserve to have their voices heard and their needs addressed,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan. “This annual address helps us forge a path forward together to ensure we’re fostering a strong inter-governmental relationship.”
[…]
Water rights
The Ute continue to experience shortfalls on water despite settlements, according to [Manuel] Heart. Heart stated that there must be a process through legislation to ensure water rights to tribes. [Melvin J.] Baker added that the lack of funding remains a critical issue for the Ute economy that depends on the water projects industrially and agriculturally.
“The Colorado river tribes have been left out of key conversations for too long,” Baker said. “We want a seat at the table, to be heard and part of the decisions, and not be overlooked. We want the commitment to protect water rights and no caps placed on the future developments of water resources.”
In response to this request Friday, a bipartisan resolution was passed by Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie (D); Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D); and Sens. Dylan Roberts (D) and Cleave Simpson (R) to urge Congress to fully fund the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which would provide $35 million in funding for critical infrastructure projects across the country, including the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project, which carries freshwater to Southern Ute Indian Tribe land.