Under the gaze of a “wounded” eagle, representing ancient and modern Americans, 250 ecstatic Telluriders and Ute, Navajo, Lakota and Zuni dancers, joined hands and hearts, and danced in a more joyful Millennium!

It was initiated at a Native Ceremony on December 29, supported by three local Mayors, where Telluride Ski and Golf Company owner, Ron “All-Red,” living up to his name, dedicated a breathtaking tribute to the Utes of Colorado, and all Native Americans, with a larger-than-life-sculpture of a Ute Peacemaker astride his pony. As the finale, when the heart melting befeathered youngsters of the Ute Mt and Northern Ute Bands (the ladder removed to Utah 130 years ago), pulled off the tarp of “Wind Spirit,” by Judy Nordquist, the touching jubilant war cries of approval from Natives and Telluriders alike, folks said, “lifted Telluride’s Mountain Village.”

“I’m wearing Red to honor the Heroes of the Millennium,” declared Olympian, Suzy “Chapstick” Chaffee, citing how timely this honoring was, if you reflect on the Who’s Who Contributors of the quality of life of the last 1,000 years in this valley, country and world. Think about it--without Democracy and Ecology, we might not be here,” said the host and co-chair of Native American Olympic Team Foundation with Colorado’s Southern Ute Unity leader, Alden Naranjo-- a partnership of leaders of the Ski Towns and Tribes of Colorado.

“Ron Allred is the Abe Lincoln of this Native Ski healing,” said Chaffee, referring to Aspen, Vail and Steamboat, who this season are teaming up in a Colorado Gesture to honor the Utes by sharing the joy of skiing. NVF’s Ambassador, Cheyenne Ross Anderson, “Fastest Native American on skis--137mph, started Purgatory’s two years ago.

Native Americans were “our first Ecologists,” praised local General Schwarzkopf.” Thanks to a referral by his blood brother, Bill Bradley, (Champ of American Indians in the Senate), “America’s Guru of Coaches,” Phil Jackson, who did Native Ceremony with Michael Jordan and his invincible Chicago Bulls before games, paid tribute:

“Ski...for fun and for healing of the land, the mountains, the valley and the sentient beings of Telluride (an inspiring team respite). Telski’s idea, directed by Suzy Chaffee, to dance, drum, and ski “peace and healing back into the land of the Utes, is the spirit of inclusiveness that Americans should heed in this coming Millennium. Thanks for bringing this celebration to all of us! Peace.” --P.J.

The Ceremony opened with Zuni Flutist Fernando Cellcion, a “Treasure” Chaffee stole from Hillary Clinton ‘s Mesa Verde event. America’s most revered medicine man Wallace Black Elk, carried the message of his namesake Lakota Black Elk, with his “White Buffalo Prophesy.” Telluride trail blazed his vision of the 4 Colors of Man coming together in harmony around the Turn of the Millennium. The birth of a White Buffalo Calf that changes to the 4 colors, would signify this transformation. Born a few years ago in Minnesota, the calf called “Miracle,” has done just that, as witnessed by over 100,000 visitors. Befittingly, two bare chested radiant 9 year olds, Joe Joe Nastacio and Al Dean, in White Buffalo head dresses, blew the crowd away with their bravery dancing in the cold, a Zuni tradition.

Also prophetically, Klee Bennally of the stunning Blackfire Navajo Band, performed the remarkable “Hoop Dance,” shape-shifting from an eagle to the Earth. He spoke of the “hoop” as symbolizing the mending of the sacred circle of life & relationship of the “Family of Man,” that Einstein, which Time’s “Man of the Century,” spoke of. Chaffee had opened the Ceremony calling on the Spirits of the Ute Ancestors, who lived in this valley, (whose presence was felt by many), as well as those of America’s wisest, JFK, RFK, FDR and Einstein, who acknowledged the benevolent genius of our 1st Americans. FDR, Einstein plus Schwarzkopf were all adopted by Native American Tribes.

Said JFK, “When we neglect the heroic past of the American Indian, we weaken our own heritage. We need to remember the contributions our forefathers and mothers found here and from which they borrowed liberally.”

(i.e.1988 Congressional resolution “recognizing their indebtedness to the Iroquois and all Native Americans for Democracy;” the Oneida women saving Washington’s troops from Freezing & starving to death at Valley Forge, for which Martha Washington gave Polly Cooper a black shawl--said President Washington, “the American Revolution would have turned out quite differently, if not for Native Americans being on our side;” and the Women’s Movement was born from the adoption by Seneca Clan mothers of the Quaker women who became the Suffragette leaders...) (More research at www.nativevoices.org)

RFK and Bobby, (who said, “I wish I was born a Native American”), gave birth to a new generation of White Indians, like St Francis (a wealthy wild youth), who are standing up for Mother Earth and Her Guardians. Bobby Kennedy Jr is “America’s River Keeper” and Patrick Kennedy, (son of Ted), heads the 60 person “Congressional Native American Caucus.”

Mayors Andy Hanley, Amy Levek & David Glynn saluted all the Native Heroes, as well as the Champion Ute Mt “Manning Dancers,” who sang praises of skiing in Telluride & Colorado at the Korean Expo in October. “We made many friends--they loved us there,” said Albert.

Said Susan Masten, the first woman Chief of the Chiefs (National Congress of American Indians), who won on a Unity Platform, “Physical Education of our youth is very critical, and I applaud your time and effort in coordinating this wonderful event, as well as our tribal youth for their participation.”

The Native Ski program is snowballing across America. Tribes and ski areas could bet their “dream,” if other “Earth Angels,” join Phil Jackson & America’s Cup Champ, Bill Koch, with funding.

“It was nice to be invited back to our ancestral lands, and shown respect for who we are,” said lovely N. Ute Princess Joetta Bitsuie, who danced to honor new generation of Telluride. The littlest Utes touched hearts presenting a “Flying like eagles on skis” statue to Ron Allred and Annie Savath and her Ski School. And reflecting the sentiment of the 50 Native kids there aglow from leaning how to ski,” Joetta also thanked Telluride & Paragon Sports for equipment, the town of Mt Village & Telluride Resort Accommodations for the rooms; Bob Beer for printing the N. Ute version of Colorado history; Suzy and Native Voices for sharing ‘the coolest sport.’ (Harvard found skiing the No 1 motivator of Native kids.) May Creator bless you and your families,” said the Ute Ambassador. They all then attended an elegant reception at the Franz Klammer Lodge.

“This reminds me of Maremount,” said local screenplay author, Rob Schultheis, (“7 Years in Tibet”), who is working on a script about the peace-loving village established in Plymouth Rock time, made up of another strain of Europeans, (like Rousseau and later Benjamin Franklin, who later brought Democracy to the world thru France) a group came who believed in the “Noble Savage”--possessors of great wisdom and grace, who should be emulated! English lawyer, Thomas Morton founded the communal colony where settlers and Indians worked and played in harmony. In the end, the other Pilgrims burned Maremount to the ground and shipped Morton back to England in chains. It was a heart breaking lost chance at what could have been a shining New World. Telluride is another chance, perhaps a sequel.” Aspen’s Chip Comins (part Lakota) of American Spirit Productions is shooting a documentary on Native Voices’ historical breakthroughs, that people say, “If we hadn’t seen this, we wouldn’t believe it could happen! “

“Thanks to Telluride’s magnificent Vision, we can look at this turn of the Millennium as a Graduation,” said Aspen’s Native Ski organizer Connie Marlow. Another member of the Aspen Team, was Sarah Pletts, who produced “Phoenix Rises,” about Native Americans' role in Democracy. Said Pletts to Allred, ”You ought to pat yourself on the back and sleep well, because your profound leadership is opening the door to healings at ski areas worldwide!

In addition to the great Native Wisdomkeepers, like Black Elk, on Native Voices Board, Americans are proud to have French Princess Carolina Murat, CNN star pianist of Paris’ Millennial Celebration (descendent of Napoleon’s sister), as their bridgemaker to Europe. Having met the charismatic N.Ute Chairman Roland McCook, at Chaffee’s Welcoming Home Party for him in Aspen last Christmas, the two daughters of Great Warriors, (see Web for Chaffee’s) began strategizing organizing an event in Gstaad for the European leaders to honor Native Americans as Millennial Heroes, in hopes of waking up America to its real “Treasures.” (Coincidentally the teepee village in Germany was founded on the teachings of 2 WWII Ute Heroes of Berlin.)

“Your inspiring work is helping bring racial reconciliation to our country,” wrote President Clinton to the Native Voices Team in ‘98. And Hillary assisted the Utes and Chaffee in insuring that the 2002 Olympics will open honoring our First Americans! Telluride is also the poster child of Tom Friedman, of "Nexus and the Olive Branch" about the need to balance globalization with preservation of Indigenous cultures, and the National Ski Areas of America, whose President Michael Berry is looking 7 Generations down the line. The program was founded 4 years ago, after Chaffee and Telski shared the joy of skiing with a beautiful Lakota, Rollingbears, that triggered 5 years of weather “coincidences” in Telluride, Aspen and Steamboat, as a result of honoring Mother Earth and her Guardians.