Utah Division of Indian Affairs
By Forrest S. Cuch
Background - History
The Utah Division of Indian Affairs (UDIA)
was created in 1953 when the Utah State
Legislature passed the “Indian Affairs Act”
creating the “Commission on State Indian
Affairs;” the first Director for the UDIA
was hired in 1956.
The UDIA is currently staffed by the
Director, Assistant Director, and Secretary.
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Authority
The UDIA has mandated functions, powers,
duties, rights, and responsibilities under
Utah Code Annotated (UCA), Chapter 9:
Parts 1, 2, & 3 of the “Indian Affairs Act”,
as amended.
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Mission
Develop programs that will allow Indian citizens residing
on and off the reservation an opportunity to share in the
progress of Utah;
Promote an atmosphere in which Indian citizens are
provided alternatives so that individual citizens may
choose for themselves the kinds of lives they will live,
both socially and economically;
Promote programs that help the tribes and Indian
communities find and implement solutions to their
community problems; and
Promote a government-to-government relations between
the state and tribal governments.
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Role & Responsibilities
Serve as the Indian Affairs authority for the state
of Utah under UCA, Section 9-9-1-101.
Serve as liaison and promote positive
intergovernmental relations with and between
Utah Indian Tribes (8), Office of the Governor,
Federal and State agencies, and local entities.
Coordinate with the Governor‟s office to address
Indian Affairs‟ issues and develop policies.
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Services
The primary service provided by UDIA is
‘information and referral.’ This includes:
General information about Indians/tribes
Presentations to various sectors: public, private,
schools
Publication and distribution of information
Speaker‟s Bureau
Web site: www.indian.utah.gov
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Services continued:
Monitor Utah and Federal Indian
Legislation that impacts Utah Indian Tribes
and the state of Utah.
Arrange for Annual Caucus with Governor,
Tribes, and Utah Legislature.
UDIA is also responsible for „repatriation of
American Indian human remains‟ found on
state lands.
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
UDIA Works With Two Primary
Committees
Native American Legislative Liaison
Committee consists of four State Senators
and seven State Representatives.
Native American Remains Review
Committee consists of three representatives
of state repositories and four representatives
of tribal government.
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Legislative Committee
The Native American Legislative Liaison
Committee assists UDIA to develop Indian
legislation and address Indian Affairs‟
issues.
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Remains Review Committee
Native American Remains Review
Committee assists UDIA in determining
ownership and disposition of Native
American remains found on state lands.
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Sovereignty
American Indian tribes have a political rather
than racial relationship with the U.S.
Government. This relationship came about as a result
of:
The “Commerce clause” of the U.S. Constitution
Treaties
Federal legislation and executive orders
Supreme Court decisions
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Tribes value a „Government to
Government‟ relationship with the
State of Utah
Democratically elected leaders
Lands in common Nation
Tribal Governments
Sovereign nations
Exercise right to tax businesses on tribal
lands
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Programs
Alternative Opportunities/Programs:
Economic Development Summit
Empowerment Training
Consultation in business planning and
development
Non-profit organizations
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Non-Profit Organizations
One of the key strategies UDIA has employed
to empower American Indians is through
the establishment of non-profit
organizations to serve the Indian
community:
Circle of Wellness, Inc.
Rocky Mountain Indian Foundation
Utah American Indian Housing Council
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Successes
Published „A History of Utah‟s American Indians‟
in 2000, additional copies in 2004.
Raised $110,000 as a matching requirement to
S.B. 44, Circle of Wellness, Inc. in 2001.
Indian Education Specialist position funded by
State and Indian Education Task Force in 2002.
Established Rocky Mountain American Indian
Economic and Education Foundation, Inc. in 2003
Trained over 100 cohorts under „Empowerment‟
leadership training program in the years 2002,
2003, and 2005.
Established Utah American Indian Housing
Utah Division of Indian Affairs
Council in 2005.
Successes in Business
Provided assistance in the establishment of
two tribal information technology IT
companies: NWB Technology, LLC and
Suh‟ dutsing Technologies, LLC.
Developed 10 Year Plan for Successful
Business Development
Utah Division of Indian Affairs