2013 Western Trip – Powwow

As of Oct. 2, we are back at Almost Heaven South and the 5300 mile trip is in the books, but I will continue to post our adventures, in order, unless something important happens around here.

Since the RV was surrounded by water at Durango's Alpen Rose RV Park and needed a good cleaning inside, I thought we would hang around and do some catch up work. However the girls had read about a Native American Powwow being held 20 miles away in the town of Ignacio.  After our enjoyment of Brulee in Hill City, SD, and since this was the last day of the powwow, off we went.

Ignacio is the capital of the Southern Ute Reservation, which occupies 1059 square miles in southwestern CO and the Utes are the oldest group to have continuously lived in this area – more than 1000 years.

The event we attended was the annual Southern Ute Fair and Powwow and it was a inter-tribal event with dancers from several tribes competing for $86,000 in prize money.

When we arrived, the grand entrance was over but many folks in their regalia were still in the ring.

Then I got some shots of various dancers and people walking by.

A few folks posed for me – the man on the right is a Lakota and he and his wife made the outfit.

This young man is a Navajo from NM and his dad made his outfit - a huge amount of time is involved in making them as can be seen in the lower shot.

It was a great pleasure watching the Native Americans celebrating their heritage.

Photos best if enlarged by clicking on them.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

9/15/2013 event date