Aahooo!
The vast area of southwestern Colorado, stretching north from New Mexico near Durango and Cortez, up over the craggy San Juans, down our beautiful Uncompaghre Valley to the confluence of the Gunnison and Uncompaghre rivers, was for hundreds of years claimed by the Ute Indians. Each fall, the various segments of the Ute Nation would gather in Council at the confluence to celebrate the bounty provided by Mother Earth and Man Above. For over 180 years, each Council would meet under a huge cottonwood tree that still
stands and has been designated a historical landmark.

This site, located in Delta just north of us, is today the scene of the yearly Ute Council Tree Pow Pow, held each September. Annee and I had never attended, so we made it a point to do so this year. Attendees are composed primarily of the Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Utes, and Northern Utes, but representatives from the Arapaho, Hidatsa, Lakota, and many other tribes also join in the three day festivities, that translate to big doings in Delta.

Annee and I went on Friday nite, and arrived just in time for the grand entrance. The City of Delta has developed the huge Confluence Park between the two rivers that encludes the Council Tree Arbor, built in a circle representing the Circle of Life, just for this event. As the drums throbbed, elders of the various tribes entered the Arbor carrying the American flag and about ten other flags. All participants were dressed in full native regalia and slowly danced into the arena to the beat of the drums.

It took the better part of half an hour for the entrance parade to enter, and when completed the arena held about 150 elders, young people, and little kids dressed in their finest. Opening prayers were made in both native languages and english for all the white people attending. The national anthem was drummed out in Hidatsa. Royalty of the tribes, who had served in the US armed forces were introduced to rousing applause.

The evening's events included dance competitions for various age groups, along with drumming competitions from nine different drum groups. The traditional costumes for young and old were simply spectacular . We had forgotten to bring our camera, so we decided to return on Saturday.

Sherril joined us for Saturday's events, so we got there early so the gals could visit the 40+ vendors selling indian jewelry and crafts. At 1 PM a huge crowd had gathered for the days grand entrance. Participants we had noticed the previous evening were decked out in entirely different finery, and the festivities were as equally impressive.

I took pictures for an hour, then headed to the truck to listen to VT beat Ohio in Blacksburg. The gals hung around to watch the dancing and do some serious toe tapping to the throbbing drums.

We decided the Pow Wow was so much fun that we would put it on our yearly to do kist. If you ever get a chance to attend one, you don't want to miss it!

Aahooo!

Coming Up

We've got a busy schedule coming up. In October we will be in Virginia for 3 weeks to attend my 45th college reunion / homecoming, a big Eastern Shore of Virginia fish fry, and the VT/Boston College game. In betwixt, we'll be catching up with family and frens. Then, when we get home, there is duck and goose season, but, that's another story. Best you stay tuned in!

LOVE

ANNEE & DEE