Dignitaries from the Blood Tribe of Alberta, Canada, made a visit to the Southern Ute Tribal Campus to learn more about the success of the Tribe. They started their morning at Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy, met with Tribal Council, the Southern Ute Growth Fund, Justice Center and SunUte Community Center, Tuesday, Aug. 29. The group was led by Southern Ute elder, and former Chair, Pearl Casias. They met with councilman Adam Red for a traditional lunch at the Multi-Purpose Facility. Lynda Grove-D’Wolf gave a presentation on the significance of the Ute language and how important it is to preserve languages throughout Indian Country. “Our language is who we are and it’s dying, we need to find a way to interest the youth to be proud of their language,” D’Wolf said. The dignitaries Chief Roy Fox-Makiinima, councilors; Hank Shade, Levi Blackwater, Doug Singer, Clayton Blood, Marcel Weasel Head, Kirby Many Fingers, Ponokaiksikksinamm and Martin Heavy Head were very appreciative of all the information shared with them to take home and incorporate within their own tribe. Chief Makiinima gifted Chairman Clement J. Frost with an ammolite gemstone as a token of appreciation. The group was set to travel to the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, Wednesday, Aug. 30 to meet with their Tribal Council and view the UMU campus.