Meskvlwv Wesley, SUIMA upper elementary student helps Southern Ute elder Hanley Frost put sticks into the front door of the tipi. The demonstration provided a hands-on culture experience for the younger students at the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy Tuesday, Nov. 1.

A group from the Jicarilla Apache Nation helps demonstrate the process of tipi raising to the SUIMA students, who put up three tipis to kick off Native American Month. Pictured right to left, Jaron James, Nancy Muniz and Kevin Yazzie won first place at this year’s Southern Ute Tribal Fair during the tipi raising contest, their team set up a full-size tipi in under 16 minutes.

Kevin Yazzie puts wooden sticks on the door of the 18ft tipi, Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy Upper Elementary Teacher, Mae Yazzie-Pino helps younger students with placing a tipi pole during the Tipi Raising and Blessing on Tuesday, Nov. 1, hosted by the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum staff to kick off Native American Heritage Month.

SUIMA student, Osias Goodtracks helps out by putting stakes into the ground to keep the tipi hide secured.

Marvin Pinnecoose, Events and Heritage Coordinator for the Southern Ute Cultural Department, talks to students from SUIMA’s elementary classes for the start of Native American Month on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at the south end of the Museum where they put up three tipis of different sizes.