‘Pino Nuche’ honor the bear through dance
Friday - June 7, 2019 by Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Trennie Collins | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Trennie Collins | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Trennie Collins | The Southern Ute Drum
Memorial Day weekend marks the annual Bear Dance on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, a spring celebration that brings the Ute tribes together in this four-day ceremony, Friday, May 24 — Monday, May 27, honoring the bear. Held against the backdrop of the Pine River, under the shade of cottonwood trees, the Bear Dance kicks off Friday morning with a prayer and opening dance by the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy students. The celebrations culminate on Monday evening when the signers sing the ending song, and dancers take part in the endurance dance to close the Bear Dance until next spring.