Dignitaries from the three Ute Tribes were invited to attend the Legislative Breakfast at the office of the Colorado Lt. Governor-Barbara O’Brien on March 23, 2007, representatives of the Northern Ute, Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Indian Tribes separated into two groups, each in either the Colorado Senate Chambers or House Chambers. L-R: SU Chairman Clement Frost, SU Councilwoman Michelle Olguin, Miss Southern Ute Jalisa Paul, Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien, Miss Southern Ute First-Alternate Trinity Taylor, SU Councilwoman Ramona Eagle.

Effie Monte and her “babies” soak in the spring sunshine in front of her grandfather, Peter Eaton’s old farmhouse just north of Ignacio on Rainbow Road. Raised in the traditional way, Mrs. Monte said she didn’t learn English until she was 7. Her brother taught her.

Lee Briggs-Education Director, Stacey Rivera, Mandy Peacock and Buelah Kent, Johnson O’Malley Committee member.