DURANGO, Colo.—The Southern Ute Indian Tribe has a new leader.
Jimmy Newton, Jr. was inaugurated as the tribe’s chairman on Thursday in Ignacio along with two other new tribal council members.
The Durango Herald ( ) reported that they all promised to work for change and unity. The change started during the event when Newton held a sacred pipe-passing ceremony, a practice that was once routine.
Newton said that the tribe needs healing and that “the biggest thing now is to remember who we are.”
Earlier this year, Matthew Box resigned as chairman, just before he was set to meet with the tribal council about their calls for him to step down. He denied claims that he had refused to share certain information with them.
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Information from: Durango Herald,
