Southern Utes dance into spring at powwow
Friday - June 10, 2016 by Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
A fancy dancer keeps up with the beats at the Southern Ute Bear Dance Powwow, hosted at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds from May 27-28.
Rudley Weaver (left) and Russell Box Sr. share greetings at the Southern Ute Bear Dance Powwow.
Southern Ute tribal elder, Alden Naranjo, introduces the attendees with the honorable invocation.
Little Miss Southern Ute Krystyn Weaver thanks audience members for attending the Southern Ute Bear Dance Powwow.
A young dancer stays in tempo with fellow dancers during the grand entry on Saturday, May 28.
Dancers grace the Southern Ute Fairgrounds during the Grand Entry ceremony.
Bruce LeClaire (left) dances in the Southern Ute Bear Dance powwow.
The Southern Ute Bear Dance powwow is known to bring energetic performances from dancers across Indian Country.
Tribal elder, Russell Box Sr., dances in the Southern Ute Bear Dance Powwow.
A drum group performs during a fancy dance competition.
The drum group, Yellow Jacket, perform at the Bear Dance Powwow.
A dancer keeps to the tempo of drums.
The Southern Ute Bear Dance Powwow is an event for all ages.
Henry Whiteskunk dances his way into the arena during grand entry Friday, May 27.
Southern Ute Tribal Council Chairman, Clement J. Frost salutes the flags during the flag song during grand entry on Friday, May 27.
Trae Seibel and his son dance during an intertribal Friday, May 27.
Jaelyn Austin and Myla Goodtracks dance beside one another on Friday, May 27.
Orion Watts, Olyvia Watts, and Daya Thompson hold hands during a tiny tots song.
Ivan and Richard Joseph along side their grandfather Byron Frost lead family and friends during a special held by Byron Frost and family on Friday, May 27.
Alana Watts (left) and mother Laurie Monte-Watts dance during the Frost family’s special.
Ute Mountain Ute Councilwoman, Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk dances in grand entry Friday, May 27.
In addition to the powwow, a Hand Game was hosted at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 28, pitting a number of teams against each other for the top money prize.
Hand Game drummers keep to the rhythm as they watch the opposing team hide the sticks under a scarf.
The Hand Game is an old event from Ute history.
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Sacha Smith | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Sacha Smith | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Sacha Smith | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Sacha Smith | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Sacha Smith | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Sacha Smith | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Damon Toledo | The Southern Ute Drum
























The Southern Ute Bear Dance Powwow brought together dancers and spectators across Indian Country May 27-28 at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds. Each day of the powwow was filled with gourd dancing, singing, and friendly competitions.
Tags: Alana Watts, Alden Naranjo Jr., Bear Dance Powwow, Bruce LeClaire, Byron Frost, Clement J. Frost, Daya Thompson, Henry Whiteskunk, Ivan Joseph, Jaelyn Austin, Krystyn Weaver, Laurie Monte-Watts, Myla Goodtracks, Olyvia Watts, Orion Watts, Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, Richard Joseph, Rudley Weaver, Russell Box Sr., Southern Ute Bear Dance, Southern Ute Fairgrounds, Trae Seibel, Yellow Jacket