Maykh’ Hello
My name is Maleina Carel and I’m the outgoing Miss Southern Ute for 2024-2025. I’m 17 years old and I’m a Senior at Goal High School located in Durango, Colo. My bands are Mouche-Caputa 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 also have served on the Sunshine Smith Cloud Youth Advisory Council.
I would like to share my final quarterly Royalty report on the events, powwows and trips that I have attended for the months of June, July, August and September of this year.
June: My month started with the Towaoc Powwow and Bear Dance in Towaoc, Colo. I traveled to Colorado Springs to attend the “Forever Comes” exhibit opening ceremony in Colorado Springs at the Pioneer Museum. I enjoyed looking at the exhibits and was super proud to see some of our tribal members’ beautiful exhibits being showcased. You must see it for yourself if you are ever traveling through Colorado Springs. I was in attendance for the summer kickoff Boys & Girls Club BBQ, I was in attendance for the Inaugural Tero worker trainee recognition luncheon that the TERO department hosted, Elder Appreciation Symposium that was held by the Social Services department.
I traveled to Jicarilla, N.M. to attend their Jicarilla Day Powwow where I placed first in the teen girl Northern Traditional category, I also attended the Christian Women’s conference at the Southern Ute Museum. I did an introduction, danced in a Grand Entry along with the heritage dancers and we did a round dance with the participants. I enjoyed this because I reunited with one of my teachers from grade school, Mrs. Sutton Gallegos. I also took pictures with ladies that were part of this conference and enjoyed visiting with them.
July: First week of July I traveled to Fort Duchesne, Utah and attended the 2025 Northern Ute Celebration during the 4th of July weekend, while I was there, I also attended the 4th of July Princess Pageant and the Youth Powwow that was held on Thursday evening. That week I also stayed and participated in the Tri-Ute Games held in Fort Duchesne, Utah. I played basketball and participated in bowling. I was in attendance for the Jimmy Newton Jr. Youth Conference; I rode in the San Ignacio Parade on a horse during the parade and I placed first place in the horse rider category.
August: I started this month by attending the Boys & Girls Club End of Summer BBQ, Ute Mountain Casino Powwow and welcomed the newly crowned Miss Indian Colorado, Aliyah Jacket, and the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society SW regional conference. The Southern Ute Wildlife Department hosted it this year, and I was honored to be in attendance to do a welcome and provide a farewell at the end of their conference. I also attended the Southern Ute Royalty pageant and was the MC for our event; it was my very first time doing this and I enjoyed it.
I was very honored to be in attendance for the 13th annual Durango Veterans Bike Run that was held at the Southern Ute Veterans Park. I was gifted a beautiful Southern Ute Veterans mug and a Southern Ute Veterans challenge coin by Mr. Howard Richards Sr. He thanked me for always showing up and supporting them. It’s always an honor to see the Southern Ute Veterans representing at the powwows and events. They are always welcoming, and I admire all they have done and still do for our people. Lastly, for the month of August I attended the White Mesa Powwow for one of their Grand Entries and I attended the last Bear Dance of the year.
September: I’m including this month because I attended and represented as much as I could. I attended the Pino Nuche Art Market & Juried Show. They did a showing of a short film of the Royalty, which I was a part of when I was Jr. Miss Southern Ute last year. I’m glad I got to view it one last time and on this same day I stopped by the Behavioral Health celebration for the youth at the Pinnu Nuuchi skatepark with mural painting and deck painting. I enjoyed seeing the youth enjoying themselves painting their skateboards and listening to some awesome music by The Blissins and The Illegal Aliens.
The final events I attended were the Southern Ute kickoff meal and the Southern Tribal Fair & Powwow. I was the head lady for Friday, Sept. 12th Grand Entry. My last day of representing as the Miss Southern Ute 2024-205. I had a special to honor four elders and a giveaway on Friday evening. On Saturday I held my outgoing Miss Southern Ute special “Ute women shawl & shell dress with a sky-blue scarf.” It was an honor to dance along 12 beautiful Ute women and made me feel proud to see them participate in honor of my outgoing special. I can’t forget the Jr. Miss Ute Mountain, Wohpe Plentyholes for coming out to dance along with us.
This is my final Royalty quarterly report, and I did a lot more this year of representation. It’s been an honor to represent the Ute people and the Southern Ute Tribe, the elders, the membership, the youth and my family. I have represented for a continuous three years as an ambassador. I honorably held the Junior Miss Southern Ute Alternate 2022-2023, Jr. Miss Southern Ute 2023-2024 and Miss Southern Ute 2024-2025. It’s been an experience of many challenges & obstacles – both negative and positive. I can say it’s not easy being an ambassador, it comes with a lot of responsibilities and knowledge.
I’m thankful for everyone who supported me throughout my three years of representation. To the Elders who gracefully taught me and guided me when you felt that I was ready to take on your teachings. I learned from the youngest to the oldest. I want to thank my mother Marie Joy for making me things and always gifting me with beautiful items when you felt I was ready for them. You have taught me to always stay strong, stand tall and represent the Ute people and be proud of who I am. My sister who I look up to for her guidance and her positive attitude.
I was honored to hold these three different royalty titles and I’m glad to have had this honor to be your Miss Southern Ute for 2024-2025. Many people from family, friends, Tribal Council, Executive Officer and my relatives; I would like to thank for your unconditional support and your guidance that has made me the proud young Ute women that I have become. My final fair well wishes it has been an HONOR to serve and represent my Southern Ute people and as I pass on my crown, I also leave behind my legacy. Many blessings to all my relatives and the membership, tuvuchi togwayak.
Maleina Carel
Outgoing Miss Southern Ute
2024-2025