Southern Utes host pageant to crown royalty

Recently crowned Ute Mountain Ute Royalty joined the current Southern Ute Royalty, after each gave a welcome, and the outgoing royalty gave their farewell speeches at the 2023 Southern Ute Royalty Pageant, Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Southern Ute Multi-Purpose Facility.
Southern Ute Council member, Vanessa Torres and other members of Tribal Council welcomed all in attendance to the 2023 Southern Ute Royalty Pageant.
The panel of judges for this year’s Royalty Pageant included Marty Pinnecoose, Lisa Jacket, Odyssey Baker-Silva and Rochelle Aguilar; the panel judged each contestant in Ute knowledge and history, talent, regalia and dancing, while paying attention to public speaking, and appearance and if the contestants knew their family background.
Contestant for Miss Southern Ute, Autumn Sage speaks about the hand drum she made, and sang a song she composed on her hand drum. Sage previously served as Junior Miss Southern Ute from 2017 to 2022.
Contestant for Junior Miss Southern Ute. Maleina Carel speaks about her beaded breastplates, holding one she made for her sister, while also wearing one she made. Carel currently holds the title of Jr. Miss Southern Ute Alternate for 2022-23.
Contestant for Little Miss Southern Ute, Shayne White Thunder presented her puppet, “Nova” and her dance style as her talent presentation. White Thunder currently holds the title of Little Miss Southern Ute Alternate for 2022-23.
Henry Whiteskunk speaks of his bear dance growler, and how his father, Henry Whiteskunk showed him how to make the growler and about his Ute culture and traditions.
Theodone Greany, with some help from his mother, speaks of his bracelets and how he makes them.
All contestants for the Southern Ute Royalty had to show their respective dance styles, Maleina Carel and Shayne White Thunder showcased their dance styles.
Both vying for the Southern Ute Brave title, Theodone Greany and Henry Whiteskunk, both fancy feather dancers, showed their dance skills and regalia before the judges.
Outgoing Miss Southern Ute, Grace Gonzales and outgoing Miss Southern Ute Alternate, Rhianna Carel, each received a shawl from the pageant judges as a parting gift for their representation as Southern Ute Royalty.
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
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Fri Sep 8th, 2023
Robert L. Ortiz
The Southern Ute Drum

Categories: Culture

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Ute Mountain Ute Royalty and loved ones joined the outgoing Southern Ute Royalty in celebrating a year of Southern Ute representation across Indian Country. Outgoing royalty gave their farewells and Royalty candidates all presented their respective talents, including Ute knowledge, before a panel of judges for the upcoming year. The panel judged each contestant in the areas of Ute knowledge and history, talent, regalia and dancing, while also paying attention to public speaking, and appearance and if the contestants knew their family background. The official crowning will take place at the Friday evening Southern Ute Tribal Fair Powwow, Sept. 8 at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds.

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