Holiday cheer was in the air during the annual Christmas dinner and program began on Saturday, Dec. 15 in the events center of the SkyUte Casino Resort. The celebration featured plenty of food and goodies for families from all the Ute tribes (Southern, Northern and Ute Mountain). The night concluded with music performances by the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy, a live action play written by Cassandra Atencio and a Ute nativity reenactment. All the boys and girls were then surprised by a holly jolly Santa Claus and were sent home with bags of holiday treats for the membership, courtesy of the Southern Ute Cultural Department
The entire Southern Ute Montessori Indian Academy provided attendees of the annual Christmas dinner with holiday songs in both Ute and sign language on Saturday, Dec. 15.
This Ute nativity scene featured Levi Lopez as the little Shepherd, Rudley Weaver and Philman Lopez as the wisemen, Jazmine Carmenoros as the Virgin Mary and Edward Box III as Joseph.
Elliot Hendren dressed as a coyote, plays a role in Cassandra Atencio’s creation story play that debuted at the Christmas dinner on Saturday, Dec. 15.
Photo Credit: McKayla Lee | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: McKayla Lee | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: McKayla Lee | The Southern Ute Drum
