Harvesting knowledge
Wednesday - November 26, 2025 by Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
SUIMA student Laurance Santistevan Jr. takes his time harvesting the backstrap off of a deer during the field dressing workshop.
Ignacio High School students Gracyn Archuleta and Jayden Scott work as a team to help skin the deer that was harvested the morning of Nov. 20.
Fidel Velasquez, SUIMA Ute Language teacher Maria Rivera and student Phillip Velasquez look on as Riley Lang skins the animal that was harvested earlier that morning for their demonstration.
IHS students Leandra Litz and Aubrey Lucero listen to directions from Southern Ute Wildlife Biologist, Danielle Austin before they had an opportunity to process the meat from a deer harvested that morning.
SUIMA students intently watch as Rhiannon Velasquez, SUIMA curriculum specialist for Ute Education, showed student Ethan Rhode how to field dress a deer on Friday, Nov. 21
Students from the SUIMA look on with mixed excitement as they put on rubber gloves before getting a chance to get their hands dirty during the demonstration on how-to field dress big game animals.
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Conrad Thompson | The Southern Ute Drum
Fall time is here and hunting season is in full swing! Local hunter Rhiannon Velasquez with her family, along with Southern Ute Wildlife, put on several field dressing demonstrations for the local schools. The first one was held Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Ignacio High School and followed by a second one, Friday, Nov. 21 at the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy. The students got their hands dirty learning how to field dress an animal and properly harvest the meat.