Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance events bring tribes together

Friday - June 7, 2019 by Staff report | The Southern Ute Drum

Tribal Veterans lead Grand Entry of the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow on Saturday, June 1 in Towaoc, Colo.

Miss Southern Ute Jazmine Carmenoros welcomes the powwow attendees to the Ute Mountain Ute Powwow, as Jr. Miss Southern Ute Autumn Sage awaits her turn.

The two-day Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Handgame tournament coordinator, Reuben Hammond gives teams final instructions and rules before play begins, Saturday, June 1 in Towoac, Colo.

Mike Santistevan and team members compete in the early rounds of the open handgame tournament. Santistevan were defeated early on, however rebounded to win the three-man hand game tourney, Sunday, June 2.

The annual Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance parade brought veterans, royalty, dancers and Smokey Bear together in Towaoc, Colo., Saturday, June 1. Veterans lead the parade with the colors.

Southern Ute Royalty, Patience Watts and Levi Lopez, dance, wave and throw candy to spectators lining the parade route during the annual Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance parade.

Southern Ute Little Miss Ute Patience Watts rides atop a blanket draped car during the annual Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance parade.

Former Ute Mountain Ute Chairman Manuel Hart rides his steed through town in the annual Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Parade, Saturday, June 1, in Towaoc, Colo.

Robert jack joins other motorcyclists in the annual Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Parade, Saturday, June 1 in Towaoc, Colo.

Helaina Taylor (in blue) stands with other traditional women, during grand entry of the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow.

Gabe Richards waits on first base for his teammates to advance him at the Ute Mountain Ute Men’s Softball Tournament in Towaoc, Colo.

Miss Southern Ute Jazmine Carmenoros shakes hands of other royalty members after they made introductions and welcomed those in attendance at the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow.

Southern Ute grass dancer, Marty Pinnecoose, shows his stuff during the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Contest Powwow.

Gourd dancers begin the Saturday morning session of the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow.

Southern Ute Miss Southern Ute Jazmine Carmenoros joins Veterans prior to the lowering of the U.S. flag to half-mast, in honor of the Whiteskunk family.

Ute Mountain Ute veteran, Willard Light, lowers the U.S. flag to half-mast, in honor of the Whiteskunk family.

During the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow, Veterans lowered the U.S. flag to half-mast, honoring the Whiteskunk family.

Royalty members pause before entering the arena to begin the afternoon session of the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow.

Head Woman dancer, Timber Manning and Head Man dancer, Steven Pensoneau make their way around the powwow arbor during the afternoon grand entry of the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow.

Christina Herrera dances with her partner on the last day of the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance on Monday, June 3.

Clarence Pinnecoose dances with two young women dancers at the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance on June 3, in Towaoc, Colo.

Jonas Grant Bullethead looks on as the flags song plays.

Southern Ute Little Brave, Levi Lopez feels the beat of the drum at Grand Entry.

Terry Knight and Jonas Grant Bullethead lead the flags into the corral on Saturday, June 1 at the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow in Towaoc, Colo during the evening Grand Entry.

Grass Dancer, Marty Pinnecoose enjoys the evening sun during Grand Entry at the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow on June 1, 2019.

Tribal Veterans salute the flag of the United States of America as Grand Entry comes to a close and a victory song is sung by one of the drums at the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow.

Bella Pena dances one of the few dances before the last dance of this year’s Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance ends.

Sarah Cuch hold her partner tight while enjoying the sound of the growlers.

Sisters Leora Lucero and Lisa Frost dance with Antonio Kanip at the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance.

Divine Windy Boy and partner dance hard to the bear dance music.

Olyvia Watts dances at Grand Entry of the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Powwow.

Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance Chief, Terry Knight gets picked to kick up some dust.

Two young dancers show off their moves in the Ute Mountain Ute bear dance corral.

Alberta Bison Doybi moves to the growlers at the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance.

Linda Eagle enjoys the last day of the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance and its fellow dancers.

Orion Watts watches the ball as it goes over the fence at the Ute Mountain Ute Men’s Softball Tournament in Towaoc, Colo. Watts was a member of team Skoden which won first place in the men’s tournament each winning bats.

Isiah Valdez gets ready to tag out at first base at the Ute Mountain Ute Men’s Softball Tournament held on Saturday, June 1.

Craig Hight gets low and picks up the outfield base hit at the Ute Mountain Ute Men’s Softball Tournament in Towaoc, Colo.

Arnulfo Pardo takes a swing for the fence at the Ute Mountain Ute Men’s Softball Tournament held on Saturday, June 1.

Photo Credit: Trennie Collins | SU Drum

Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum