Forrest Cuch is an enrolled member of the Ute Indian Tribe.  He was born (1951) and raised on the Uintah and Ouray Ute Indian Reservation in northeastern Utah. He attended public schools until grade nine wherein he attended and graduated (1969) from Wasatch Academy, Mt. Pleasant, Utah.  In 1973, he graduated from Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah, with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in the Behavioral Sciences. After graduating from college, Forrest served as education director for the Ute Indian Tribe for the period of 1973 to 1988.  During this time, he developed many educational programs, which greatly benefited the Ute people, including efforts leading to the publication of the tribe’s history book, A History of the Northern Ute People, University of Utah Press, 1982.  More recently, Forrest was editor to the fall 2000 publication of A History of Utah’s American Indians, Utah State University Press.  In October 1997, Forrest accepted his current position as executive director, Utah Division of Indian Affairs.  He sees his present job as a major challenge with primary emphasis on educating Utah leaders and the general public, not only calling attention to the ancient presence of American Indian people in Utah, but also their present and enduring plight as citizens with very unique contributions yet to be made to modern day society.  Forrest served as a trustee, representing American Indians on the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.  Forrest gives many presentations on Ute History, Utah Indian History, American Indian History, Indian Education, Economic Development on Utah Reservations, and other related subjects.