Maleina Carel

Mique, 

My name is Maleina Carel and I’m currently the Jr. Miss Southern Ute for 2023- 2024.  

I’m 16 years old and I’m currently in the 10th grade. My bands are Moache Capote and Weeminuche. My maternal grandparents are Hardy Joy Sr. and the late Anna Weaver. My great grandparents on my paternal side are James Price Sr. and Linda Lopez of Towaoc, Colo. My paternal grandparents are the late Vernest Carel and Marlene Price Carel. My parents are Marie Joy (Carel) and Vern Carel. I have an older sister, Rhianna Carel. 

I would like to share my quarterly report of my travels and the events that I have attended this year during my reign that started on Sept. 8, 2023. 

SEPTEMBER 

• Sept. 8-10, Southern Ute Fair – I was crowned and started my reign as the Jr. Miss Southern Ute for the 2023-2024. 
• Sept. 15, I attended the Ms. Indigenous Pageant held at the San Juan College in Farmington, N.M. and supported my older sister Rhianna Carel. She was one of the contestants participating and representing the Southern Ute Tribal Nation for the Ms. Indigenous San Juan College Royalty. 
• Sept. 16, I attended the Southern Ute Tribal Rodeo. 
• Sept. 20, I attended Yellow Nose: Ute Dog Soldier with Orland Joe Sr., Southern Ute Artist and founder of the Yellow Nose Warrior Ute Historical Society. This was held at the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum. 
• Sept. 23, I attended the 2023 Miss Indian New Mexico Pageant In Albuquerque, N.M. I was there supporting the outgoing Miss Indian New Mexico LIV Alysia Coriz-Kewa Pueblo and I had the honor to watch and welcome the newly reigning Miss Indian New Mexico LV Kelsey Quintana-Jicarilla Apache Nation. 
• Sept. 29, I participated in the Bear Dance presentation for the N7 Fort Lewis lady soccer game held at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. 
• Sept. 30, I represented the Tribe in the Durango Cowboy Parade in Durango, Colo. and attended the 18th Annual Totah Drums of Fall Powwow at the Lions Wilderness Amphitheater in Farmington, N.M. 

OCTOBER 

• Oct. 11, I attended the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign that the DEA, the Southern Ute Department of Education’s Montessori Academy (SUIMA) held for the month of October.  
• Oct. 17, I participated and walked in the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk held by Shining Mountain Health and Wellness and Sun Ute Community Center. 
• Oct. 9, I attended the Gourd Dancing in Towoac, Colo. 
• Oct. 21-22, I participated at the Moab Red Canyon Powwow in Moab, Utah.  
• Oct. 31, we had a Halloween booth for the Halloween carnival at the Sky Ute Casino. 

NOVEMBER  

• Nov. 2, I was in attendance for the Breast Cancer Awareness dinner which was held at the Sky Ute Casino Resort. 
• Nov. 2, I participated and was part of a live dancing presentation in honor of the Native American Heritage month. I danced with other head staff as part of my head girl duties. These are the following five different schools in Aztec that we performed for: Aztec High School, C.V Koogler Middle School, Mc Coy Elementary, Park Ave. Elementary and Lydia Rippey Elementary. 
• Nov. 3, I was in attendance at the meet and greet for the Fort Lewis College boys’ and girls’ basketball team. 
• Nov. 4, I was head girl for the Kinteel Bi Ot Ta Powwow held at the Aztec High School in Aztec, N.M. I also participated in a dancing performance during the Aztec High School halftime football game along with the other head staff. This was my very first time being asked to be head girl and it was an honor to represent the Southern Ute Tribe and Royalty. 
• Nov. 11, I attended the Southern Ute Veterans Powwow at Ignacio High School. 
• Nov. 14, I participated and walked for the 3rd Annual “Out Runnin’ Diabetes” fun run and walk. This event was held by the Shining Mountain Health & Wellness and Albuquerque Area Dental Support Center. 
• Nov. 15, I attended Rock your Mocs event to celebrate unity of our unique cultures during Native American Herit age Month which was held in the Hall of Warriors. On this same day I was in attendance for the Reflections of Honor, the grand opening of the Veterans Exhibit at the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum. 
• Nov. 16–29, I participated in the dance presentation for the following schools for the month of November in honor of the Native American Heritage month: Primary School in Bayfield, Colo., Sunny Side Elementary School in Durango, Colo., Ignacio Middle School and Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy (SUIMA).  
• I also attended the Adoption Day Celebration about Adoption and how Indigenous societies have survived and raised Strong; Resilient People held by the Southern Ute Social Services Department.  
• The last event I attended for the month of November was our Southern Ute Thanksgiving Dinner at the Sky Ute Casino.

This is all I have done so far this year and I hope you all have enjoyed my report and my participation. It’s been a busy half of the year and I’m looking forward to the upcoming events. I want to wish the elders, the membership, and people of the community — Happy Holidays and Blessings for the New Year. 

Tog’oiok, 

Maleina J. Carel 

Junior Miss Southern Ute  

2023-2024