Southern Ute Christmas Dinner & Program

Santa and Mrs. Claus made a guest appearance to hear all the Christmas wishes and hand out stockings full of treats to kids following the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy (SUIMA) Christmas Program at the Sky Ute Casino Resort on Saturday, Dec. 17.

SUIMA students kicked off the performance with “A Ute Prayer, Tugutukwa ‘apaghay,” written by the late elder Annie Bettini.

Students of SUIMA’s Upper Elementary gave a special accompanying drum performance of the song, “At Christmas Time, Everyone is Singing.”

SUIMA students Myklin Goodtracks and Raphael Herrera help their classmates sing the closing song, “Santa Claus.”

Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy Ute Language Guide, Maria Rivera directs where students should be positioned on the stage at the SUIMA Christmas Program. Rivera along with fellow Ute Language Guide, Shawna Steffler helped make sure students remained on cue during the performance.

Cultural Preservation NAGPRA Coordinator, Cassandra Atencio plays the game Bear, Fish, Mosquito with Tribal Council member, Linda Baker before the SUIMA Christmas Program. The game is a variation on the classic Rock, Paper, Scissors game and encouraged those who lost to become the cheerleaders for the winners to give encouragement for those to enter the next round. The game was hosted by Native Connections Program Specialist, Precious Collins.

Southern Ute tribal elders. Russel Box Sr. and Georgia McKinley serves up food alongside family during the Tribal Christmas Dinner program.

Southern Ute elder and former Vice-Chairman, Ramona Eagle awaits a serving of prime rib steak at the Tribal Christmas Dinner program.

Newly elected councilmember, Marvin Pinnecoose welcomes families that attended the dinner. Southern Ute Tribal Council gave opening remarks to kick off the Tribal Christmas Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Sky Ute Casino Resort.

Southern Ute Brave, Henry Whiteskunk II takes his turn in giving a welcoming address to those in attendance before the Christmas dinner on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Sky Ute Casino Events Center. Royalty and dignitaries from the other Ute tribes also gave opening remarks and well wishes for the holiday season.

Fabian Martinez | SU Drum

Krista Richards | SU Drum

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Thu Dec 29th, 2022 , by drumadmin |

The holiday cheer was in full swing during the annual Christmas Dinner hosted by the Southern Ute Culture Department on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Sky Ute Casino Event Center. Friends and family members from the Southern Ute, Ute Mountain, and Ute Tribe came together to celebrate the holiday season. After the dinner, Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy students and guides annual Christmas Program continued the holiday cheer with students by performing Christmas standards translated into Ute and arranged by late tribal elders Annie Bettini and Betty Howe. After the performance, youngsters of all ages were treated to a visit from Santa and Mrs. Clause.