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Senate Centennial Spotlight highlights Uinta Basin history; Joanne Thomas recounts family homesteading
Summary
As part of a Centennial Spotlight, Senator Moraine presented historical context about the Uinta Basin and Ute peoples; Joanne Thomas delivered a personal, emotional account of her family's homesteading experience and community ties in the Basin.
The Utah Senate paused legislative business for a Centennial Historic Spotlight and a Committee of the Whole hearing featuring local recollections from the Uinta Basin.
Senator Alec Moraine (presenting the Centennial Spotlight) outlined the long human history of the Green River corridor and the Uinta Basin, noting archaeological findings, early traders and settlers, and events tied to statehood. He acknowledged the Ute people and read contributions prepared by local tribal representatives.
Senator Moraine moved the body into a Committee of the Whole to hear Joanne Thomas, whose parents homesteaded in the Basin. Thomas described multi-generational homesteading life — log cabins, a lack of indoor plumbing, travel by horse and sleigh, rural electrification arriving late, and deep ties between families and Native communities. She spoke of the hardships and the cultural memory the Basin holds for her family.
Her testimony was personal and descriptive rather than legislative; the president thanked Thomas and several senators acknowledged the value of hearing local history on the floor.
Those remarks preceded a return to routine legislative business, and the Senate recognized visiting guests and students in the gallery.
