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On Friday, May 8, the opening ceremony for the Fort Duchesne Bear Dance took place as the bear greeted children and their families.
Adelbert Tavashutz from the Ute Tribe leads the flag lowering ceremony on Monday to start the cutting song.
Sisters Rhianna and Maleina Carel took a quick break to adjust their regalia before heading back into the corral to kick up some dust.
Bear Dance Chief Serenus Kanip greeted visitors attending Bear Dance with words of encouragement.
The ladies head out to choose their dancing partners on Saturday afternoon.
Ute Tribal member Kerry Ann Cesspooch prepares to join her fellow dancers along the line.
Grandfather Howard D. Richards Sr. enjoyed watching Joseph Howell participate in the weekend long Bear Dance.
Ready…Set…Go!!
Jonas Bullethead Grant Sr, and Jonas Bullethead Grant Jr. stand in attention and salute while Adelbert Tavashutz lowers the flag with care. Bringing down the American Flag at days end is a time-honored tradition for members of the War Bonnet Society of Ft. Duchesne.
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
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Ute Bear Dance bring Tribes together

Tuesday - May 19, 2026 by Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum

The Bear Dance Chief, Serenus Kanip, along with sub chief Joseph Kanip welcomed Dancers of all ages from across the three Ute tribes to this year’s Northern Ute Bear Dance held in Fort Duchesne, Utah on the Uintah & Ouray Reservation Friday May 8 – Monday, May 11. At the end of the four-day celebration, the friendly competition between dancers and singers ended with the singers winning the challenge with a song lasting two and a half hours, resulting in a win for the singers! 

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