Singers assembled around two drums, as they sang songs ushering in the New Year with songs and a blessing at midnight, bringing in 2025.
Guests from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and attendees at the New Year’s Eve Celebration were served a meal provided by community members.
Southern Ute elder, Axle Box and Ute Mountain Ute elder, Dan Clark are served a meal provided by community members.
Jr. Miss Southern Ute, Leandra Litz holds a plate of holiday cookies.
Neida Chackee and her daughter Sarafina welcome those in attendance to the New Year’s Eve Celebration. Chackee acknowledged the families who had been putting the celebration on prior to her taking it over, after the passing of Alex Cloud who organized the more recent celebrations.
Ute Mountain Ute Tribal members, Nick Murray and Dustin Lang sing songs, among others who gathered around the drum, singing in the New Year.
Cindy Winder and Cynthia Buckskin are among those who sat around the drum.
Jr. Miss Southern Ute, Leandra Litz and Little Miss Southern Ute Alternate, Olyvia Watts listen as Ute Mountain Ute Young Warrior, Kiowon Cantsee, welcomes those in attendance to the New Year’s Eve Celebration.
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Celebrating New Year’s Eve with song
The annual New Years Eve Celebration once again rang in the new year at the Multi-Purpose Facility, Dec. 31. Neida Chackee and her family, with the help of community members organized this year’s event, as the late Alex Cloud previously assumed the duties of organizing the event. Chackee told those in attendance, “this is not my event, this belongs to everyone.” The annual celebration had been run by the Kent family prior to Cloud taking it over, up until his recent passing.
