Mique,

My name is Patience Jada Ruby Watts Gaines. I am Little Miss Southern Ute 2018-2019. My parents are Megan Watts and Davidson Lopez. I have two brothers, Levi and Melleno. My maternal grandparents are the late Margaret Hummingbird Red and Rodney Red. My paternal grandparents are Leann and Reggie Lopez of Towaoc, Colo.

I am eight years old and I am in the second grade at Ignacio Elementary School. I enjoy dancing, singing and playing with my cousins and my brothers.

I received my crown at the 2018 Southern Ute Tribal Fair and Powwow. I am happy to represent my tribe as Little Miss Southern Ute and I look forward to attending future events. I want to thank the Royalty Committee and my family for helping me learn the responsibilities of representing my tribe at different gatherings.

So far, I have attended the following events: San Juan College All Nations Community Powwow in Farmington, N.M., Sept. 21 & 22, 2018; Bannock Creek Halloween Powwow in Bannock Creek, Idaho, Oct. 27, 2018; Salt Lake City Halloween Powwow in Salt Lake, Utah, Oct. 28, 2018; Boulder Valley Indigenous Peoples Day Powwow in Boulder, Colo., Oct. 6-8, 2018,’ Family Matters Gathering in Towaoc, Colo., December 1, 2018; the 13th Annual Cedar Band of Paiutes Thanksgiving Powwow, November 23 & 24, 2018; Memorial Birthday Celebration Powwow in honor of the late Ira Water House Jr., December 28 & 29, 2018; the Southern Ute Tribal Thanksgiving Dinner at the Sky Ute Casino; the Written on the Land Ute Voices History Colorado Exhibit in Denver; Ute Mountain Royalty Christmas Powwow and the Southern Ute Tribal Christmas dinner and program at the Sky Ute Casino Resort.

Tog’oiak’

Patience Gaines

Little Miss Southern Ute

2018-2019