Challenge of change

Not all tribal members see Jurrius in glowing terms. Controversy surrounding his financial vision continues to pick at the tribe.

Former tribal council members Floyd Wopsock and Luke Duncan contend they were ousted two years ago because they disagreed with Jurrius' handling of tribal finances and energy resources. They continue to complain that Jurrius operates too much in secret, leaving people in the dark on his investment activities.

Wopsock is among five Utes who filed suit against the tribe and Jurrius. At the core of the suit is an allegation of "wasteful, predatory or misguided business dealings."

Wopsock contends Jurrius mismanaged and misappropriated tribal assets, including a mortgage on a shopping center that was used to "pay certain tribal members for their political support." The lawsuit also contends Jurrius' financial plan resulted in monetary and job losses as well as mismanagement of oil and gas leases.

"Change is difficult," said Cameron Cuch, an analyst for Ute Energy. Because the tribe has voted on these changes and supported the changes, dissidents only send a dark cloud over the successes.

"They make it very difficult for the tribe to step up and accomplish its goals," Cuch said. "Since making these changes, the tribe has been able to advance itself. We are just now starting to realize some of the real benefits."

While the Goshutes have reaped next to nothing the past 10 years, the Utes, who nearly went bankrupt four years ago, turned their fortunes around.

A better life?

The pursuit of wealth often clashes with tribal tradition and values, particularly when it comes to the land. American Indians living on reservations don't want to see the earth raped to make a buck.

"There's a fine line between tradition and economic development," Bear said eight years ago when the nuclear waste storage project was still new. "Without tradition there is no past, and without economic development there is no future."

He feels the same way today. Opportunities like this don't come along very often, he said.

"The reservation is a hard life," said Bear, who grew up in Tooele but moved to tribal land in 1980. Life without running water or electricity was hard for his young family. "But we survived."

Now the tribe is looking for a better life.

"We want to be just like the outside," Bear said. "When I turn on the light, I want electricity to be there. When I flush the toilet, I expect the waste to go away."

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