Native REZ-olution Youth Concert Thanks

I would like to give thanks to all that helped in this year’s “Rock The Youth” Native REZ-olution XI Youth Concert.

First and foremost, I must thank each of the bands who traveled to Ignacio to rock out the Youth Concert stage: The Illegal Aliens (Sante Fe, NM); Eye (Albuquerque, NM); Park Ave. (Shiprock, NM); Fatal Corruption (Gallup, NM); Tu$ken (Farmington, NM); and DZYNUS. (Farmington, NM). Without the music and the musicians we would not have a concert!

An additional thank you to Cordy, Mike and Carlin of Park Ave., for waking up early, traveling to Ignacio and playing in the Tribal Fair Parade, Oziah Ortiz, Alexis and Blenda for helping, And to Glen Walker and staff at Walkers Do-It-Best for assistance in a last minute request for a generator for the parade. We won 2nd place!

I would like to thank the Eagle Wing Singers led by Afrem Wall, Sinaav Larry, Timothy Piaz, Dewayne Hendren, Elliott Hendren, Phoenix Tarver and Angelo Baker. These young men started the Youth Concert in a good way, singing in Ute, and blessing our stage with a traditional song.

I would like to thank all those that volunteered their time, blood, sweat and tears to make this year’s concert a success! Frank O’John, and Kris White for helping me with setting up and tearing down the staging and canopies. Volunteers for the concert – Miracle Ortiz, Blenda Ortiz, Quintina Pavisook, Iyonia Pavisook, and to Trennie and Precious Collins for helping me put up the shading for the stage. To those that helped with cleanup Phillip Martinez and Maria Trujillo, Doreen Baker and Sean Wheeler, and Agatha Bison and Kris White.

I need to extend a grateful appreciation to Tres Amiga’s for cooking the food and feeding the bands, Ula Gregory, Ernestine “Mary” Maez, and Kasey Correa. Also to Mi Hito’s for feeding those who attended the concert, Amber Baker-Valdez and Omar Valdez, and Adrian.

A special thanks to the ELHI Community Center staff – Executive Director, Raymond Dunton and ELHI Board President Gina Shultz, Joe Pointer and Kasey Correa – for hosting the event in Inspiration Square at ELHI. Without the ELHI Community Center hosting this year’s event, we may not have had a show!

I would like to thank Brandon Tsosie of Studio 18 Productions for coming through with sound reinforcement and lighting up the night’s sky this year.

I had obstacles to overcome, losing funding, and being told no I can’t have the concert the way I have in the past. I turned that negative into a positive and now I run the concert my way, the best I can, although this cannot be done alone, I cannot do this by myself, WE DO THIS TOGETHER! As a community – for the youth, for our future, as was done for us.

I cannot express enough thanks to all that helped support with funding for this year’s show: Bertha Box, Bruce Valdez, Christine Sage, Melvin Baker, Daisy Blue Star (Daughter’s of the Red Road), Veronica Herrera, and to those private donors who wish to remain anonymous – thank you very, very much for your support and your belief in what the concert brings to Ignacio and to our youth, thank you for making the event rock!

We could not have gone that extra mile without our sponsors from the following businesses, your raffle contributions helped keep the spirit of the youth concert alive and rocking for another year: John of Main Street Music (Aztec, NM); Jimmy of Jimmy’s Music & Supply (Durango, CO); Trina of iHeart Radio (Albuquerque, NM); Farmer’s Fresh Market (Ignacio, CO); and Tracy of Sky Ute Casino Resort (Ignacio, CO). Thank you Krista for the REZ-olution wristbands – once again they were a big hit! Also thank you to Basin Printing & Imaging (Durango, CO) for your in-kind donation and assistance in promoting the concert this year. A very appreciative thanks to REZ-olution Radio Hour on KSUT Tribal Radio 91.3 FM for the live on-air interviews with the bands and playing their music, and KSUT Public Radio (Ignacio, CO) for promoting the Youth Concert, and assisting in paperwork to make the show happen! You rock the air-waves!

We must thank the Sky Ute Casino, and Sky Ute Fairgrounds for staging, we rocked that stage!

Thank you to, the Los Pinos Fire Dept., the Ignacio Police Dept., and the Southern Ute Police Dept., for helping make the concert a safe event. Crayton for the use of his trailer, and the Sky Ute Casino maintenance staff for loading and unloading the staging.

Lastly, and certainly not the least – the fans and supporters of the Youth Concert. I’ve held the concert for 11 years now, and it’s you – those who have come to the show. Without the fans, there would not be a reason for the bands to perform. You are the true heroes, the youth that rocked out this year, proved why we need to do this. We hold this drug and alcohol-free event, in a safe environment. Hoping to inspire the youth to chase their own dreams, as the bands are doing – sharing their passion for their music, and their love of performing. It’s a true community event now, as many local businesses chipped in what they could, the ELHI Community Center hosting the youth concert, and the tribal entities that helped. I want to thank each of you for making this year’s Native REZ-olution XI Youth Concert a success. As we continue to Rock the Youth, we are looking forward to the 12th year and beyond!

Tah-ah, Togoiak, “Thank you!”

Robert L. Ortiz,

Native REZ-olution Youth Concert