Ute/Native American traditions

onalei12

Hi everyone! I am looking for some information about Ute Indian wedding traditions. My fiancée is 1/4 Ute and he wants to incorporate some of his traditions into our wedding. My mother-in-law is making most of the arrangements on their side and isn't really communicating any info to me. So I was hoping that someone would know anything about the Ute wedding ceremonies/culture. I appreciate the help. Thank you all!

onalei12

And also, I am chamoru(Guam) and other mixes. We are combining different aspects of our cultures and I have been taking care of our welcoming, and engagement of some sorts, gathering that will also include some of my chamoru dowry presentations.

KDM323

Ask your fiance what traditions from his culture he wants to incorporate and that are important to him?


If he doesn't know any - then they can't possibly be significant enough to him to warrant being included in your ceremony.

onalei12

He has told me about the bread and basket ceremonies. Which is what he is set on because they are set to show honor to our parents. I am just curious as to what else there is that could possibly be involved being that my mother-in-law is set on making herself involved.

WonderRed

I have done a lot of work with the tribes in my job and both FI and I are from northern New Mexico, where the NA cultures are very much infused into every day life for everyone,  and many of those customs and beliefs are very near and dear to us.  But I don't know much about the Ute nation.  Every tribe has different customs but there are also some that are very similar from tribe to tribe, especially in the four corners states.    

A  very close, long time friend of ours who is a Navajo shaman asked us to allow him to perform our ceremony and we are honored to let him.  He will be doing a sage blessing to begin (where a christian welcome and prayer would be)   and will also do the four directions blessing/prayer (equivalent of a reading, so to speak).   We will also be drinking from the wedding vase at the end, right before he declares us husband and wife, which is a fairly standard tradition for just about everyone where I grew up.   Have you considered the possibility of including some traditional, native flute music? 

Your MIL is probably the best one to go to, though.  Take the initiative to reach out to her and ask.   I would think she would be glad that you want to show such respect to her culture as a part of your day.

jessicabessica

drexelkathy said:

Ask your fiance what traditions from his culture he wants to incorporate and that are important to him?


If he doesn't know any - then they can't possibly be significant enough to him to warrant being included in your ceremony.

I think the bolded is a little silly.  Many cultures have traditions that are specific to weddings, so if you have not been to many weddings in your culture before, you wouldn't necessarily know them.  It's not that far-fetched of an idea.  

OliveOilsMom

If FMIL is already planning and organizing things from the Ute Nation, perhaps have your FI call her and ask her what she is planning.  Have your FI tell FMIL that while he appreciates her initiative, he needs to know what aspects she is planning on because you both want to include both cultures and traditions into your ceremony, so you may not be planning on having every Ute Nation wedding tradition, so that there is room for your Chamoru wedding traditions.  It is best to have your FI speak with FMIL about this as it's his family.