The Southern Ute Drum Presents 2023: A Year in Review

Friday - January 12, 2024 by Staff report | The Southern Ute Drum
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NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMES — Team Colorado athletes, coaches, and mission staff – joined by Miss Southern Ute Alternate, Rhianna Carel and Miss Southern Ute, Grace Gonzales – make their way through Halifax, Nova Scotia for the North American Indigenous Games.
HONORING VIDA PEABODY — Students from the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy give introductions and birthday wishes to Southern Ute tribal elder, Vida B. Peabody. For many students who attended the event, this was the first time meeting the former Tribal Council member in person.
TRIBAL CREDIT — New homeowners Jerrna Weaver and Cody Mills stand alongside family members and project team members before the ribbon cutting and tour of their new home on Wednesday, Oct. 18. With the assistance of Tribal Housing, the pair became homeowners through the Cedar Point Housing Initiative.
WALKER'S HARDWARE CLOSES — Owners of Walker’s Do it Best, Barbara and Glen Walker, with “Nikki” closed their doors for good after 31 years in business. Walker’s liquidated all items in the hardware store including furnishings.
VETERANS POWWOW — Southern Ute Veterans Association Commander, Howard Richards Sr. presented two certificates in appreciation to representatives of the Ignacio School District and members of the Ignacio School Board Chris deKay and Alan McCaw during the event.
VETERANS POWWOW — The Southern Ute Veterans Association leads in Grand Entry during the Southern Ute Veterans Powwow on Saturday, Nov 11 at Ignacio High School. This community powwow welcomed veterans in the area–sponsors include – Volunteers to Honor our Veterans, Southern Ute Veterans Association, Ignacio School District, and the Southern Ute Multi-Purpose Facility Powwow Group.
UTE NATIONS DAY — Members of the Southern Ute Tribal Council stand with Colorado Governor, Jared Polis for a photo in the Governor’s office, following the Tribe’s one-on-one meeting with the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera and Governor Polis to discuss tribal issues at a state level on Friday, April 14. First Dog of Colorado, Gia — made a guest appearance for the photo!
UTE NATIONS DAY — Southern Ute Vietnam Veteran, Rod Grove brings in the Southern Ute Flag alongside association members, Gordan Hammond (Ute Mountain Ute Flag) and Commander Howard Richards Sr. (American Flag) during the opening ceremonies in the State Capitol building on Friday, April, 14.
TRIBAL COUNCIL — Introducing the newly elected Southern Ute Tribal Council for 2023-24, pictured left to right: Andrew Gallegos, Marty Pinnecoose, Vice Chair Lorelei Cloud, Chairman Melvin J. Baker, Marge Barry, Treasurer Marvin Pinnecoose, and Vanessa Torres in the Hall of Warriors. The Southern Ute General Election was held Friday, Dec 3, followed by a run-off election on Friday, Dec. 15 for the Chairman and remaining council seat. The newly elected council members include Chairman Baker for a second term in office, Gallegos and Pinnecoose serving their first terms as members of the Tribal Council.
UTE LANGUAGE PRESERVATION — Tribal elders, Judy Lansing and Pearl Casias and Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy (SUIMA) Ute Language Guide, Shawna Steffler were honored for their help in the SILDI Mentor Circle. In total, 27 students from all three Ute tribes finished the program and were certified as teachers of the Ute language.
UTE LANGUAGE PRESERVATION — Members of the first cohort of the Southwest Indigenous Language Development Institute Ute Language Certification class gather with Fort Lewis College Dean of the School of Education, Dr. Jenni Trujillo for one of their final in-person classes held on Sunday, March 12 at the Culture Center and Museum.
NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMES — Athlete Elijah Lee of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe dribbles the ball down the court weaving around Team British Columbia athletes in attempt to score on Tuesday, July 18 following opening ceremonies for the 2023 North American Indigenous Games.
NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMES — Proudly carrying the Southern Ute tribal flag, Team Colorado athletes and coaches make their way through downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia where spectators lined the streets in anticipation of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, Sunday, July 16.
NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS GAMES — The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) took place from July 15 – 23, in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) and Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia. Teams from Colorado and New Mexico traveled to Nova Scotia in 2023 to compete against some of the best Indigenous athletes from across Turtle Island in their respective age categories.
SUPD WELCOMES BARROW — Councilwoman Marge Barry pins a police badge on the new Southern Ute Police Chief Michael Barrow as part of his swearing in ceremony held on Monday, Dec. 4, at the Casias Newton Justice Center. Barry alongside her brother, Tyson Thompson shared stories of their father William S. Thompson who served as Chief of Police for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in the 1960s.
HONORING VIDA PEABODY — Southern Ute Council Member, Vanessa Torres and Vice-Chairman, Lorelei Cloud wrap tribal elder Vida B. Peabody in a Pendleton blanket given as a gift for her 93rd birthday. Peabody is currently the eldest member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.
WATER CONSERVATION — Lorelei Cloud, vice chair of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, on the banks of the Los Pinos River, also known as the Pine River on April 17, in the heart of the Southern Ute Reservation where water plays a critical role to the tribe. Strong winter snowpack results in higher-than-average water levels in the Pine River from Vallecito Reservoir to the north.
HICKENLOOPER VISITS TRIBE — Following a formal meeting with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council, and the Southern Ute Tribal Council, Senator Hickenlooper finished the morning with a tour of the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy.
HICKENLOOPER VISITS TRIBE — Southern Ute tribal member and youth employee, Zuriah Baker shares the Ute “Creation Story” with Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper during his visit to Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy’s language classroom.
HERITAGE GAMES — The SunUte Community Center, in collaboration with Fort Lewis College, presented the Native American Heritage NCAA Games powered by NABI–the annual Native American Basketball Invitational. To her surprise, SunUte Director Robin Duffy-Wirth is honored with a Pendleton blanket during the event on Saturday, Nov. 4–the blanket was presented by the Southern Ute Tribal Council for her service to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.
HERITAGE GAMES — Haskell Indian Nations University’s #5 Kamryn Yazzie and #21 Marilyn Goodman play defense against Fort Lewis College’s #0 Ember Cervantes during the Native American Heritage NCAA Games powered by NABI on Saturday, Nov. 4. Fort Lewis College and Haskell Indian Nations University competed against each other in front of a crowd of 1,000+ fans. The free community event has been a long-time goal for SunUte Community Center, exposing collegiate athletics to local youth.
FATHERHOOD ROCKS — Southern Ute elder, Kean Richards, spoke about the memories of his father and lessons bestowed upon him as a youth. He was joined by his grandson Camron Heintz and great grandson James.
FATHERHOOD ROCKS — Billy Crawley II and the Good Ole’ Boys, a country band from Kayenta, Ariz., brought a little of that country flavor to the Father’s Day Concert in the Park at the Southern Ute Multi-Purpose Facility.
COLOR US WITH LOVE — Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Royalty members gather with special guest, Tonia Jo Hall for a quick photo op.
COLOR US WITH LOVE — Participants simultaneously throw their colored powder in the air at the end of the run – in celebration of the community event. The Southern Ute Division of Social Services hosted the 2023 Child Abuse Awareness Color Run.
COLOR US WITH LOVE — Southern Ute elder, Connie Baker chats and gets an autograph from “Auntie Beachress.” Elders were the first in line to get a quick photo and some laughs with the comedian. The Southern Ute Division of Social Services hosted the 2023 Child Abuse Awareness Color Run on Friday, April 21 at the Piinu Nuuchi Skate Park. The annual event was held to help raise awareness on child abuse and spread the message “Color Us with Love.”
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Fabian Martinez | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Fabian Martinez | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Fabian Martinez | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Courtesy Micah Lucero
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Fabian Martinez | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Fabian Martinez | The Southern Ute Drum
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Looking back, 2023 was a year full of community driven programming and important milestones for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe ranging from cultural preservation and youth engagement to protection of natural resources. The Tribe made important steps towards language preservation and water resource management; tribal youth travelled to Halifax for NAIG, youth also experienced ice climbing and field dressing practices firsthand — where empowerment and inclusion were prioritized. 

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