David Arapene Cuch, son of Carla Giles Cuch and Forest Cuch, brother of Cameron Cuch, uncle to Jay Ryder Cuch, cousin and friend to so many, died March 21.

He was preceded in death by grandfathers Jason Cuch and Jose Giles and grandmothers Josephine La Rose Cuch and Bertha Vanderhoop Giles Robinson.

David was born May 26, 1978 on the Uintah Ouray Reservation in northeastern Utah. David was proud of his Wampanoag and Northern Ute heritage. David attended Martha’s Vineyard elementary schools, and Wasatch Academy, a boarding school in Utah.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Westminster College, Utah, and a master’s in public administration from the University of Utah.

David was the first Ute Indian to attend the University of Utah’s law school — he would have graduated this May. The S.J. Quinney College of Law will award him an honorary diploma at commencement. David had hoped to protect his people from legal intrusions he believed threaten the sovereignty and personal rights of American Indians. Most recently David worked for the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association and Salt Lake Legal Issues.

David was very proud of his participation in the opening ceremony as a fancy dancer and Native American village director at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

During his summers home in Aquinnah, David was active in the Wampanoag Youth Group and served as a counselor for the Town of Aquinnah summer camp. He looked forward each summer to participating in the annual Wampanoag pageant, the Legends of Moshup. He also had worked summers as an historical and cultural interpreter for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah.)

This letter from David’s friend, Mitakuye Oyasin, Delbert “Hupahumaza” Hopkins, was read at his services and truly exemplifies David’s values and commitment to friends, family and Native American struggles.

“I met David back in 2004, at PLSI (Pre-Law Summer Institute). David was a good man. He was smart, friendly, laid back, and he never hesitated to defend his people. He put others before himself. David reached for the stars, and he inspired me to do the same.

“David was my friend. David was not only my best friend, he was my brother. My buffalo brother. The Dakota people tell a legend, about a buffalo hunt that took place long ago. A hunting party had gone out to track buffalo. A few days into the pursuit, the hunting party came upon an unusual site. There was a large, impressive-looking buffalo standing over another injured buffalo, who was lying on the ground. This large male buffalo was guarding his injured brother, who lay beneath him. The hunting party decided to leave the buffalo, and return later to see what would happen. The next day, the party returned and saw that the large buffalo was still guarding his injured buffalo brother, and he was also nudging him to get up. Even when members of the hunting party approached and the buffalo knew danger was near, he would not leave his brother. The hunters left, and returned once more the following day. To their surprise, the buffalo was still guarding his brother, but this time something was different. The fallen buffalo was getting up. He was getting better, at the encouragement and persistence of his brother. The hunting party watched in amazement as the injured buffalo got up, and walked away, with his buffalo brother at his side.

“David was and is my buffalo brother. When I met him at PLSI, I was the injured one. I had never lived away from the Dakotas and I was afraid. I didn’t feel like I was good enough to be there. I didn’t know anyone and I was homesick for the plains I called home. As soon as I met David we became inseparable. He was always there to encourage me to fight on. Through the years, as he worked his way through law school, and I completed a master’s degree and was elected to tribal office, we continued to reach out for one another, and encourage each other. Many times I felt as if David were the only person who really understood what I was going through, and he always knew exactly what to say to pick up my spirits and give me the strength to fight another day.

“David was a bright light in a dark place. Many people never realize how lonely and difficult it can be, to be the person who runs in first place — that person who must make a new path for all others to follow. David took it in stride. I once heard someone say, “Where are the Crazy Horses, the Sitting Bulls, the Geronimos, of this generation? Where are our native leaders?” This person must have never met David, because he was the likes of Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and Geronimo, in braids and a three-piece suit. He wanted to fight for all of us and I’m so proud that he was my friend.

“His death is unfair and senseless, not only to us who knew and loved him, but to all native people. He would have been a force for not only natives, but humanity.

“I’ll miss our late night talks. I’ll miss his mannerisms and the way he laughed, the way he made me laugh no matter how bad things may have seemed. He was a true brother, my friend. My friend David.

“As I burn sage and sing this night, I sing for you, David. I am thankful that I was blessed with the opportunity to get to know you, in your short life. No one will ever be able to take away those memories of the times we shared, both good and bad. I will take your memory, and pass it on to others, to encourage and inspire our young native people to reach for the stars and serve their tribes, unafraid. Good night, my friend. Sleep well, until we meet again. I will strive to make you proud.”

The University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law has established the David Cuch Scholarship which will be awarded to Native American students. Contributions in David’s memory and honor may be made to the David Cuch Scholarship c/o S.J. Quinney College of Law, Development Office, 332 South 1400 East Room, 101, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112.