Native American Heritage Month at the Academy 

This month has been a busy one throughout the Tribal Campus. Collaboration between the different departments and the school offered several opportunities to celebrate Native American Heritage, which SUIMA gets to do every day.   

The cornerstone of the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy is the Southern Ute language.  In recent years we have been able to collect data on the growth of the language within the school.  Besides using a self-created assessment tool, we can also see and hear growth as our students speak it outside of school, greet visitors in Ute, hold short conversations, and lead Ute games and lessons during our Family Nights.  

Our mascot, the eagle, is also significant to Native Americans. In the early years of SUIMA, there was no vision of a mascot. In 2010, the upper elementary students were tasked with the responsibility to choose a mascot. After research, which included surveying of students and staff, the students determined that the eagle would represent our school.  Upon this decision, the students took it to Tribal Council, and the mascot was approved through Resolution 2011-54. and the chosen mascot was an eagle.  Hence the title for this article: The Eagle’s Nest.  

 

Here are a few facts about eagles. 

• The bald eagle is the only eagle unique to North America. 

• The eagle’s scientific name (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. 

• About half of the world’s 70,000 bald eagles live in Alaska. 

• The bald eagle was chosen June 20, 1782, as the emblem of the United States of America, because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks. 

• During the 1970s, bald eagles were seriously endangered. 

• On June 28, 2007, the Department of Interior took the American bald eagle off the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened species. 

• There are 1273 schools in our nation that claim the Eagle as their school mascot; 64 colleges also have Eagles as mascots.  

 

Just like eagles, the SUIMA students show strength and power.  It is a great time to be a SUIMA Eagle.   

 

Reminder 

The cold and flu season has arrived.  Please check that your child is up to date with their immunizations and consider a flu vaccination of nasal spray.  

 

Nuu’apaghapi – Ute phrases and sentences.  

To help families continue using Ute language at home, refer to these sentences next week.   

• tʉkay– eat
• kumuy– corn
• núuaghatʉaghochi- spirit plate
• turkeykwiyutʉ
• squash -káaravasi
• green beans -sagˈwamerivisi

 

Upcoming events and activities 

• Nov.27-28 –No School: Happy Thanksgiving 
• Dec.10 – No School: HonoringLeonard C. Burch 
• Dec. 11 – SUIMA School Board meets at noon
• Dec. 13 – Tribal Christmas dinner and program
• Dec. 16 – Parent Advisory Group meeting at 6p.m.
• Dec. 17 – Family Night activity at 5:30p.m.
• Dec. 22– Jan.3 – No School: Christmas/winter break