A road to wellness

Friday - May 16, 2014 by Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum

The Southern Ute Tribal Flag in full-furl

Velma Armijo, Neida Chackee, David Boyd and Dewitte Baker

Flag carriers from the Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain and Southern Ute carried their respective tribal flags – as well as military flags – in unity for awareness of the positive effects physical activity in ones life.

The walkers started the 18-mile walk from the junction of Colorado State Highways 160 and 491 from the Ute Mountain Ute visitors center.

The Southern Ute Tribal Flag in full-furl, being carried by Dewitte Baker led the walkers with other tribal flags.

Miss Southern Ute, Amber Doughty, of the Southern Ute Shining Mountain Diabetes Program walks alongside an elder.

Jonathan Sells walks along the 18-mile road to the Four Corners monument. Jonathan and his mother Carol joined many others during the annual walk.

The young and the old walked together for healthier nations.

Foot massages were very popular during the walk.

Velma Armijo, Neida Chackee, David Boyd and Dewitte Baker completed the full 18-mile trek to the Four Corners monument.

Walkers from Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico together cross the cattleguard onto the Four Corners National Monument Park.

Ute Mountain Ute dancers gave a Bear Dance presentation to end the walk at the Four Corners monument.

Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum

As Walking Together For Healthier Nations made it’s annual journey through the Four Corners region, walkers from the Navajo, Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Tribes converged at the Four Corners National Monument on Friday, May 9. A portion of the walk was an 18-mile walk that started at the junction of Colorado highways 160 and 491and ended at the Four Corners monument. Other participants walked to the monument from Aneth, Utah and Red Mesa, Ariz.