The Ute STEM Project, a five-year project, funded by the National Science Foundation to explore the connections between Ute Traditional Knowledge and western science, technology, engineering and math (STEM.) At the center of the project were the field work visits in summer 2017, 2018, and 2019.
During these field work trips, Ute elders, Ute youth, archaeologists, scientists and History Colorado staff visited historic and cultural sites near Montrose, Colorado and the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. With the permission of tribal elders and all participants, videographer Mara Ferris and evaluator Kate Livingston filmed aspects of the field work, including interviews with elders, youth and others. These longer, rough-cut interviews and footage were edited into nine short videos which were reviewed by tribal representatives from all three Ute tribes in 2018. After tribal approvals, these short videos were included in exhibits at the Ute Indian Museum, History Colorado Center and on the History Colorado