Maykh’ 

Hello name is Maleina Carel, Jr. Miss Southern Ute for 2023-2024. I’m in the 11th grade and I’m 16 years old. My parents are Marie Joy and Vern Carel. My maternal grandparents are Hardy Joy and the late Anna Weaver egap. My paternal great grandparents are James Price Sr. and Linda Lopez of Towaoc, Colo. My paternal grandparents are the late Vernest Carel and Marlene Price Carel egap. I have an older sister, Rhianna Carel. I also serve on the Sunshine Cloud Smith Youth Advisory Council. 

I would like to share my last quarterly report serving as the Jr. Miss Southern Ute for 2023-2024; attending events for the month of June, July and August: 

 

June 

I attended the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance, the Ute Mountain Ute Powwow and then participated in the parade. I attended the Elder’s appreciation dinner held at the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum, Durango Rendezvous Indian Motorcycle event held at the Sky Ute Casino Resort, I attended and supported the outgoing and incoming Royalty at the Ute Mountain Ute Royalty pageant in Towaoc, Colo., I rode in the Arboles Independence Day parade in Arboles, Colo. 

 

July 

I attended and supported the Miss Ute Tribe Pageant in Fort Duchesne, Utah. It had been two years since they had any royalty. It was an honor to make it there to support the newly crowned Royalty, I attended and participated in the 4th of July Youth Powwow in Fort Duchesne, Utah where I was asked to do an opening prayer for the youth. I was very honored to do this, and I loved watching the younger generations out there dancing and enjoying themselves, I also attended and participated in the 4th of July Powwow celebration during the 4th of July weekend in Fort Duchesne, Utah. I was able to also support the contestants for the 4th of July Powwow Princess pageant. I participated in the Tri-Ute games this year; the Southern Ute Tribe hosted it here in Ignacio. I also participated as an athlete and the royalty did a welcoming introduction on the first day of the opening ceremonies. 

  

August 

I attended the Native Love Fashion Show held at the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum; I attended our Southern Ute Royalty pageant held at the Multi-Purpose Facility here in Ignacio. I was in attendance for the Employee Appreciation Day for the Permanent Fund, The back to school bash held at the Sun Ute Community Center, I attended and supported the contestants and the newly crowned White Mesa Avikan Royalty in White Mesa, Utah, I participated in the White Mesa Bear Dance and enjoyed the Labor Day weekend dancing. 

 

I hope you enjoyed my last quarterly report as the Junior Miss Southern Ute 2023- 2024. It was an honor to represent as an Ambassador for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. This was very emotional for me to move forward because it was my last year to represent as the Jr. Miss Southern Ute. I started out as an Alternate and the many experiences that year were amazing. l learned a lot and I got to meet many new friends and elders who gave me guidance and encouraging words. I loved this so much that I continued my journey as royalty and was honored to hold the Jr. Miss Southern Ute reign.  

I look back on these experiences and it makes me proud of how much I have grown, and I look forward with many new skills and outlook on what I would like to accomplish this year. I want to thank my family, friends and the many people who supported me throughout my reign this past year. I hope you all have a great year and many blessings. 

 

Tog’oiok, 

Maleina J. Carel 

Jr. Miss Southern Ute  

2023-2024