Maykh’ Hello 

My name is Maleina Carel and I’m Miss Southern Ute for 2024- 2025. I am 17 years old and next school year I will be a Senior at Goal High School in Durango, Colo. My bands are Mouche-Capote and Weenuche. My maternal grandparents are Hardy Joy Sr. and the late Anna Weaver egap. My great paternal grandparents are James Price Sr. and Linda Lopez of Towaoc, Colo. My paternal grandparents are the late Vernest Carel and Marlene Price Carel egap. My parents are Marie Joy Carel and Vern Carel. I have an older sister, Rhianna Carel. I’m also currently serving on the Sunshine Cloud Smith Youth Advisory Council. 

I would like to share my quarterly Royalty report on the events and my trips that I have attended for the months of March, April and May. 

The month of March I attended the Multi-Purpose Facility Community Powwow, I attended the round dance in Fort Duchesne, Utah, I traveled to Denver where I was able to attend the 2nd Annual Awaxa Wi Round Dance, the Denver March Powwow, and the 2nd Annual Grand Mesa Powwow in Grand Junction, Colo. This was my first time attending this Powwow. I enjoyed the ride through the mountains, and I enjoyed my time at this powwow. 

April: The royalty attended Ute Day at the State Capitol in Denver, the next day I traveled to Ft. Duchesne, Utah to attend the Vietnam Veterans Princess Powwow. I was also able to attend the pageant for the Vietnam Veterans Powwow princess and welcomed the newly crowned Vietnam Veterans Powwow Princess Kohlea “Bossy” Yazzie. I attended the Golden High School seminar held at the Museum where we did our introductions and a round dance with the students, the royalty was invited by the head man Edward Box Ill to attend the UNLV Powwow in Las Vegas, Nev., I attended the Fort Lewis College social dance and my sister and I participated in the potato dance and took first place. The Ignacio Library requested the royalty for their Earth Day event, I traveled to Albuquerque, N.M. to the Gathering of Nations Powwow and I attended the Miss Indian World pageant, this year I participated in the horse parade that takes place during the GON Powwow weekend. It’s a two-day event and I really enjoyed riding through the crowd representing the Ute people. It’s something that fell into place for me, and it was an honor to be a part of this event. I also had the honor of being one of the judges for the Junior girl’s categories for North America’s biggest powwow known as the Gathering of Nations. I definitely enjoyed that experience and loved watching the dancers up close. The next day before heading back home, me and the Little Miss alternate, Olyvia Watts, were able to attend gourd dancing and round dancing held at the Pueblo Center. We got to greet and meet the newly crowned 2025-2026 Miss Indian World Dania Wahwasuck. 

May: May is a really busy and fun month for me. My month started off with the very first Bear Dance of the year at Randlett, Utah where I also participated in the Randlett Ute Bear Dance fun run/walk and I also had the honor to help hand out food for their feast. The second weekend I attended the Fort Duchesne Bear Dance in Fort Duchesne, Utah, I participated in the Ute Bear Dance fun run/walk. I was able to attend the flag raising and I helped the Royalty by handing out food during their feast. I traveled back home, and on the way, I stopped in Towaoc, Colo. to attend the Ute Mountain Ute pageant and was honored to be a judge for their pageant. The third weekend of May, I traveled back to Utah to attend the Whiterocks Bear Dance, and I participated in the fun run/walk there and I also helped the Royalty hand out food for their feast. I was in attendance at the Southern Ute Cultural Center & Museum for the “Following Footsteps: The continuum of Southern Ute Royalty” during the opening of the Exhibit. I really enjoyed the booklet of all the pictures of past royalty including the Rodeo and Fair queens. The exhibit itself was amazing, and I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful items that were displayed in the exhibit. The final event that I was in attendance for was our Bear Dance and Powwow here in Ignacio, Co. 

My day started on Friday 23rd with the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy 25th Annual Transition Ceremony, Bear Dance blessing of the Bear Dance grounds and I danced along with the Montessori students for the first dance, I was the head lady for the Friday Powwow session, I also held a Hats & Boots special on Saturday and I enjoyed all the participants and watching their dance styles. I was very honored and thankful for my family and friends for their support. I also was in attendance for the Memorial Day 2025 Day of Remembrance: Honoring all who Served event at the Veteran’s Park in Ignacio, Colo., and lastly, I helped with serving the elders and all who were in attendance for the Bear Dance feast. 

This concludes my quarterly report, and I hope that you all have enjoyed all my travels and participation. I have enjoyed being a part of all these events, and I thank everyone that has helped me in any way to continue to be a great and dedicated ambassador for our Tribe. It gives me great pride and honor to represent. I would like to say Happy New Year to our membership, and I wish you many blessings throughout the year. 

Maleina Carel 

Miss Southern Ute 

2024-2025