Utes host Ute Mountain Casino Powwow

Friday - August 30, 2019 by Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum

Color Guard are led by Terry Knight, carrying the Eagle Staff, on Saturday evening Grand Entry of the 2019 Ute Mountain Casino Hotel Powwow, Aug. 24 in Towaoc, Colo.

Two young gourd dancers dance to the drumbeat as the evening gourd dance comes to an end.

Rudley Weaver and Jeffery Whiteskunk lower the M.I.A. flag as the Color Guard retire the flags prior to the evening Grand Entry.

Willard Light, Jeffery Whiteskunk and Rudley Weaver fold the American Flag as the colors were retired before the evening Grand Entry was to begin.

Michela Alire holds the Ute Mountain Ute tribal flag as the flags were retired prior to the start of the evening powwow’s Grand Entry.

Patience Watts, Little Miss Southern Ute, Autumn Sage, Jr. Miss Southern Ute and Iyonia Pavisook, Jr. Miss Ute Mountain Ute assemble to enter the powwow arena.

Gordon Hammond, Rudley Weaver, Jeffery Whiteskunk and Willard Light prepare to bring in the colors for the evening’s Grand Entry.

Head Man Dancer, Henry Whiteskunk Sr. enters the powwow arena.

Southern Ute elder and grass dancer, Marty Pinnecoose enters the powwow arena as a shadow is cast by Ute Mountain.

Head Man Dancer, Henry Whiteskunk Sr. stands before Royalty members as he in introduced.

Head Man Dancer, Henry Whiteskunk Sr. competes in the Tony Tallbird, Fancy Feather Contest Special.

A Fancy Feather dancer comes to rest as the final beat of the drum sounds during the Tony Tallbird Fancy Feather Contest Special.

A young dancer checks his regalia as he makes his rounds during an intertribal at the Ute Mountain Casino Powwow.

Erny Zah, Master of Ceremonies makes his voice heard with introductions and announcements.

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

The annual Ute Mountain Casino Hotel Powwow brought host drum groups: Indian Hill (Barstow, Cali.), and the Whitetail Boys (Macy, Nev.), along with dancers, singers, vendors as well as hand gamers from around the region to the Ute Mountain Ute reservation in Towaoc, Colo., from Aug 23 to 25. The three-day event featured the powwow and the annual hand game tournament in the Indian Village adjacent to the Ute Mountain Casino.

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