The San Pitch Utes (''Sahpeech'', ''Sanpeech'', ''Sanpits'', ''San-pitch'') were members of a band of Ute people that lived in the

Sanpete Valley Sanpete County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 27,822. Its county seat is Manti, and its largest city is Ephraim. The county was created in 1850. History The Sanpete Valley may ...

and Sevier River Valley and along the San Pitch River. They may have originally been Shoshonean, and were generally considered as part of the

Timpanogos The Timpanogos (Timpanog, Utahs or Utah Indians) were a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited a large part of central Utah, in particular, the area from Utah Lake east to the Uinta Mountains and south into present-day Sanpete County. Most Ti ...

. Mormons settled in the Sanpete Valley in the winter of 1849–1850. They brought measles which decimated the San Pitch Utes. Mormons established the town of Manti and the Utes continued to camp, hunt, and fish near there. Those who had horses hunted traveled for hunting grounds. Generally, the band was having difficulty finding sufficient food and Chief Sanpitch and

Walkara Chief Walkara (c. 1808 – 1855; also known as Wakara, Wahkara, Chief Walker or Colorow) was a Shoshone leader of the Utah Indians known as the Timpanogo and Sanpete Band. It is not completely clear what cultural group the Utah or Timp ...

asked the Mormons to teach them how to farm. There were few band members who were interested in embracing agriculture. More than 100 Utes were baptized in Manti Creek by the Mormons, but many Utes made half-hearted conversions and the band continued their traditional ceremonies. The Utes asked settlers for food, which was upsetting to some of the Mormons.

Brigham Young Brigham Young (; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), from 1847 until his death in 1877. During his time as chu ...

assigned Indian Agents for the

Pahvant Pahvant (''Pavant, Parant, Pahva-nits'') was a band of Ute people that lived in present-day Utah. Called the "Water People", they fished and hunted waterfowl. They were also farmers and hunter-gatherers. In the 18th century they were known to be f ...

and

Uintah tribe Uinta or Uintah may refer to: People *Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah Places * High Uintas Wilderness * Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, Utah * Uintah County, Utah * Uinta County, Wyoming * Uinta Mountains, in the s ...

districts. San Pitch Utes were classified as members of the

by the U.S. government when they were relocated to the

Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation The Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation (, ) is located in northeastern Utah, United States. It is the homeland of the Ute Indian Tribe (Ute dialect: Núuchi-u), and is the largest of three Indian reservations inhabited by members of the Ute Trib ...

Notable people

* Chief Aropeen * Chief Sanpitch, for whom Sanpete County, Utah is named.

References

{{Ute people Ute (ethnic group)