Three weeks ago, the NCAA issued a preliminary ban of 18 American Indian team nicknames as "hostile or abusive."

Travis Whitehorse, who is part Ute, said he supports the university and its use of the Ute mascot.

"It's great that they use the Ute Tribe as their symbol and logo," he said. "It shows respect. The Ute Tribe is very grateful and honored."

Whitehorse, who wore a green traditional dance dress and feathers and participated in Saturday's dance competition, said his sister is a student at the University of Utah and he is a fan of Ute football.

A sports mascot nickname that Whitehorse does find offensive is Redskins.

"It's similar to calling us savages," he said.

But that's different from what the University of Utah is doing.

"Using the Utes' real name is not offensive," Whitehorse said.

Bart Stevens, the assistant principal at Vernal Middle School, is an American Indian who is part of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe, as well as Apache and Ute tribes. He finds the university's use of the Ute Tribe's identity somewhat disrespectful because "they dress up a white person . . . that goes out there whooping and hollering like a savage." Stevens said the university should allow a tribal member wearing traditional Ute dress to be the mascot.

"The Hollywood Indian is what they're portraying here, not the true Native American," he said.

As a U. of U. alumnus, Stevens hopes the university makes changes to how it portrays the Ute Tribe before it is allowed to keep the nickname.

The new National Collegiate Athletic Association policy bans the display of "Utes" or any related imagery during postseason national championship events.

Since the ban, the NCAA has overturned its ruling for one university, allowing the Florida State Seminoles to keep their mascot after an endorsement by the Seminole Tribe. The University of Utah is hoping for the same result.

Dine (Navajo) JMichael Crank was at the festival Saturday teaching the art and history of hoop dancing. Crank, who has lived in Utah his whole life, is not offended by the University's depiction of the Ute Tribe.

"I respect our brothers that are saying it's offensive," he said. "Personally, I thought it was an honor for the university to show the Utes emblem. I thought they were doing it respectfully. They should keep it."

However, he said it should be up to the tribe to decide whether the U. can continue using the name and image.

"We stand together as Native Americans and we have to support each other," Crank said. "If the Utes back it, that's the important thing."

jbergreen@sltrib.com