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San Miguel County backs bill to allow Colorado Ute tribes free access to state parks
Summary
The board approved a letter supporting HB25‑1163 to allow enrolled members of the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes free access to Colorado state parks, citing a 2014 governmental apology and ongoing reconciliation work.
San Miguel County commissioners voted March 5 to authorize a letter supporting House Bill 25‑1163, a bill that would give enrolled members of Colorado’s two Ute tribes free access to state parks.
County staff described the request as rooted in historical commitments and recent government‑to‑government reconciliation efforts. The memo in the packet notes San Miguel County’s 2014 formal apology to Ute people for forced removals from Western Colorado and also references presentations by tribal leaders at recent intergovernmental meetings.
County staff recommended the board sign a letter of support to Representative Sukla and Senator Cleve Simpson. The letter cites the Bruno agreement of 1874 in framing the tribal claim that hunting, fishing and gathering rights on ancestral lands persist even where lands later became state parks.
A motion to approve the chair’s signature on the letter was passed unanimously.
Ending — County staff said they will continue intergovernmental outreach with tribal leaders and regional governments and welcomed further tribal participation in local meetings to discuss shared priorities and reconciliation steps.
