William F. Hanson

[6] Hanson's main passions in life were music and learning about Native American cultures.

[5] His Native American friends gave him the name Ampa-O-Luta, meaning "the first tint of red in the east at dawn.

He was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission to the Northern States.

[1] Hanson authored a book titled Sun Dance Land about the history of the Ute people.

[3] All of Hanson's music was donated to the L. Tom Perry Special Collections at Brigham Young University.

[8] Each of his operas featured ceremonial dances, chants, and costumes inspired by Hanson's experience among Native Americans in Utah.

[5] The Bear Dance Opera tells the story of "Tam-Man Nacup," a springtime festival of the Ute people.