Yepa added that, even though the focus is on Pueblo culture, UDB also celebrates the Diné, Ute and other Indigenous cultures during the Bears Ears Summer Gathering. “This is an opportunity for all of our cultures to share cultural knowledge, languages, dances, and prayers. This is one avenue of spiritual defense of this sacred space.” The 2019 Bears Ears Summer Gathering agenda officially starts Friday, July 19th with Diné Day. The day begins with a Sunrise Ceremony, and at 10:30 a.m. Media and Cultural Sensitivity training, which is mandatory for all media attending the three-day camp-out. At about 12 p.m., San Juan County Commissioners Kenneth Maryboy and Willie Grayeyes will open the agenda. This day also features Diné poet and highly acclaimed Kinsale Houston, of Naatsis’áán, Utah; Mr. Navajo Zachariah George, of Whiterock, New Mexico; cultural workshops with Diné weaver Mark Deschinny and storyteller Raymond Redhouse; and a plant walk by TJ Redhouse. Diné Day concludes with Bears Ears updates from UDB Board Member Mark Maryboy, the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, and flute playing by Ute Mountain Ute tribal member Aldean Ketchum. On Saturday, Pueblo Day, programming starts as early as the sun rises with the Oljato Veterans Group posting the colors. In the morning, elders from San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico. will lead a workshop on Pueblo pottery. Following this presentation, Red Willow Farm, of Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, will lead a workshop on Food Sovereignty. In the afternoon, women from Tewa Women United will talk about environmental health and reproductive justice, with flute player Marlon Magdalena (Jemez Pueblo) offering some lessons in the afternoon. At about 2 p.m., UDB’s Kevin Madalena (Jemez Pueblo) will lead an Indigenous Science/Dino talk and walk with our Native Youth. Near the end of the Pueblo Day, Traditional Indigenous Games will kick-off the evening program, along with Pueblo Dancing by the Oak Canyon Dancers. At the end of this day, a Pueblo Feast Dance and Pueblo Throw, as well as a Plant Walk by the Three Sisters Collective, and story by Waya, of Acoma Pueblo, will conclude Pueblo Day. “Indigenous games area really a good way to have our Native youth learn about our culture, languages, as well as inspiring us to maintain good physical health by having a strong body,” Yepa added. On Sunday, or Ute/Inter-Tribal Day, Malcolm Lehi (Ute Mountain Ute), a UDB board member, will lead the morning prayer. After Lehi’s prayer, the Bears Ears Summer Gathering Fun Run 10k/5k will commence for most of the morning. Following the morning run, Tommy Rock (Diné) walk talk about the impacts and legacy of uranium in the Bears Ears region, among other programming this day. At about noon, our Summer Gathering will close with a light lunch by the Indigenous Healing Kitchen and a closing ceremony by the Oljato Veterans. On each day of the three-day summer camp-out, the Indigenous Healing Kitchen will serve pre-contact dishes prepared by Indigenous Food Activists Karlos Baca (Diné/Nuche/Tewa), Josh Nez (Diné), Frankie Peralto (Diné) and Dinéh Tohe (Diné). This year, the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes donated a bison for the Summer Gathering. The food activists, all of which are part of the I-Collective, will prepare the bison with the Indigenous food knowledge they learned from their matriarchs.Here is our travel guide for our Bears Ears Summer Gathering! Sign-up now to attend: https://t.co/Jae5jmmHfZ 🐻👂🏽 pic.twitter.com/yezVdUmAVA
— Utah Diné Bikéyah (@UtahDineBikeyah) July 16, 2019
“UDB Traditional Foods Program will be featuring Indigenous food activists of the I-Collective team, who will be preparing lunch and dinner focused on cultural foods that originate from our ancestral landscape,” says Cynthia Wilson (Diné), UDB’s Traditional Foods Program Director.“Join us at the Indigenous Healing Kitchen in gratitude to feed your heart, mind and soul for strength, nourishment and balance of our ancestral teachings.” Davis Filfred (Diné), UDB board chairman, says that the annual Bears Ears Summer Gathering is a time for the Indigenous cultures of Bears Ears to connect with the living, cultural landscape. Escaping the desert heat to the high country of Bears Ears is a seasonal tradition, Filfred says. “Way back, our people used to migrate into Bears Ears for the summer, and to keep that tradition alive, let us all move to the Bears Ears Summer Gathering for the weekend to celebrate our physical and spiritual connections to the land that we all come from,” Filfred says.We’re so grateful to the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes for donating a bison for our Bears Ears Summer Gathering! The Vice-chairman, Dwayne Wash, talks about how his people value bison. #IndigenousFoodHeals #bearsearsheals #honortribes @alastairbitsoi @kabahbitsoi 🐻👂🏽 pic.twitter.com/94Xt9Hx77O
— Utah Diné Bikéyah (@UtahDineBikeyah) July 12, 2019
What: 5th Annual Bears Ears Summer Gathering. The Native American public is encouraged to sign-up to attend the three-day summer camp-out of Pueblo, Diné, Ute and other Inter-Tribal cultural activities, Indigenous foods, dance, ceremony, and healing. Agenda on utahdinebikeyah.org When: July 19, 2019 from 12 p.m. to July 21, 2019 at 12 p.m. Where: Kigalia Guard Station – Elk Ridge Road (Look out for signs!) Utah Diné Bikéyah is a a non-profit supporting tribes who are working together to protect Bears Ears in Utah.Here is our travel guide for our Bears Ears Summer Gathering! Sign-up now to attend: https://t.co/Jae5jmmHfZ 🐻👂🏽 pic.twitter.com/yezVdUmAVA
— Utah Diné Bikéyah (@UtahDineBikeyah) July 16, 2019
While we prepare for our Bears Ears Summer Gathering, we write this post with a heavy heart. Over the weekend, we lost a very important person in our conservation work, Dr. Garon Coriz, whose ongoing protection and advocacy of Ancestral Pueblo lands defense has been immeasurable. pic.twitter.com/7plV3HxBYK
— Utah Diné Bikéyah (@UtahDineBikeyah) July 15, 2019
Heartbroken with the news of the passing of Dr. Garon Coriz, the result of a climbing accident.
— Tim Peterson (@TPetersonPhoto) July 15, 2019
This photo is the essence of Garon - someone who did what it takes to make a difference without hesitation. Stand in… https://t.co/tsDQ8caW55
We have lost the voice of a Native American who was compassionate, articulate, and a family physician who advocated for his patients, most of whom were disadvantaged. Garon Coriz died in a climbing accident & I am aggrived. https://t.co/vIh77c0AWM
— Dr. Kathie Allen (@kathieallenmd) July 15, 2019
We will always remember our friend and colleague Garon Coriz for his fearlessness in advocating for worthy causes and caring for his patients. #RIPGaron https://t.co/cBm28WVB2p
— UofU FM Residency (@UofU_FMRes) July 15, 2019
“He had tons of friends and touched a lot of people’s lives.” Scott E. Borg on his son, Dr. Garon Coriz https://t.co/KpVjEZKBMK
— Utah Diné Bikéyah (@UtahDineBikeyah) July 16, 2019
Garon Coriz, a descendant of the Anasazi tribe that lived in Bears Ears, talks about the sacred uses of the monument and his personal connection to the land #BearsEarsNationalMonument #BearsEars pic.twitter.com/7nA415FkWW
— Brennan Smith (@BrennanJSmith) December 4, 2017
