The speaker at the November 2004 dinner meeting was Forrest S. Cuch, Director of the Division of Indian Affairs for the State of Utah. Forrest was born and raised on the Uintah and Ouray Ute Indian Reservation in northeastern Utah. He graduated from Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, and he graduated from Westminster College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Sciences. In 1971, Forrest married Carla Giles Cuch, a Wampanoag business woman, who is of Pilgrim descent, from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. After graduating from college, he served as education director for the Ute Indian Tribe for 15 years, after which he served as a planner for the newly recognized Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, Gay Head, Massachusetts. In 1994, Forrest was appointed social studies department head at Wasatch Academy. Since 1997, Forrest has occupied the position of Director, Division of Indian Affairs. He sees his present job as calling attention to the ancient presence of American Indian people in Utah and their enduring plight as citizens with their unique contributions yet to be made to our great state.
In his presentation, Forrest recounted that, as a child, he never fully learned about his people and their great American heritage because those subjects were rarely, if ever, taught in school. Forrest declared that he found his humanity by studying his people’s history. “I had to appreciate my own culture before I could appreciate others,” he said. Forrest emphasized that American Indians have a close connection with nature that reflects their relationship with God, the Creator. “Without this connection, we become ill,” he said. He mentioned how ironic it is that the United States Government did not formally recognize the Wampanoag Tribe, the first tribe to greet the Pilgrims, until 1987. After recounting some atrocities committed by American Indians and white people, he declared, “I forgive you, and I ask you for your forgiveness. We need more dialogue.”
Thank you, Forrest, for a very insightful and thoughtful presentation.