UTES
HOMECOMING HEROES IN ASPEN
January 21, 2004
Northern Ute dancers/skiers hugging
the Toyota Hybrid Prius, the "Greenmobile," at the
end of Aspen's Winterskol Parade. "Good for Mother Earth!"
The Northern Ute Tribe
was treated like homecoming heroes during Aspen's Winterskol Parade
and Sunlight's Ute Cultural event (near Glenwood) during the Martin
Luther King weekend - a dream come true for the First Americans!
"Skiers yelled to us on the chairlift 'Great job. Thank you
for the snow,'" said James Martinez, one of Aspen's Ute Olympic
Torch carriers. The two ski areas, instructors, as well as Aspen's
ski lodges, restaurants, supermarkets, and recreation center rolled
out the red carpets. That sentiment echoed down the Roaring Fork
Valley from Aspen to Rifle (75 miles), where the Fireside Restaurant
treated them to a farewell feast.
Aspen's John Hembel,
"The Fastest Man on Skis" (153mph) in 2003, and Olympian
Danny Paterson were on hand at the parade and Snowmass' Fanny
Hill to cheer on the 17 Northern Ute kids, some dancing stars
of the Utah Opening Ceremonies. At Sunlight, 10 year olds Reneesa
Ridley and Torrance Miller performed 360's, on their 7th day of
skiing, for World Freestyle Champion Suzy Chaffee, who was proudly
watching from the lodge, side-lined following a successful hip
replacement at Methodist Hospital in Minneapolis.
The fun Ute Ski Elder,
Loya Cesspooch Arrum, led a Gratitude Prayer to Creator at Snowmass
on Sunday, which inspired some tears of joy for the 10-plus feet
of early snow that most of the Colorado ski areas (especially
Aspen, Sunlight and Steamboat) were blessed with following the
"Thank you Snowdance" at Denver's SnowSports Expo in
November. The Utes and Denver Indians, led by Eddie Box Jr, a
Southern Ute Traditional Elder, performed the snowdance in appreciation
to six Colorado resorts sharing skiing with them over the last
eight years.
Co-chair of Native American Olympic Team Foundation and event organizer, Chaffee wanted to be with
the kids in the Parade, so Shayne Morgan Sledge gave "Suzy
Chapstick" a ride in her Toyota Hybrid Prius, which Chaffee
dubbed the "Greenmobile." Both hoped to advance better
guardianship of the Ute ancestral homeland through cleaner air
and delay global warming, by bringing attention to Aspen's free
parking opportunities for Prius drivers. "Hopefully this
will accelerate the trend, since Aspen Ski Company has won the
most 'Golden Eagle Environmental Awards,' using wind energy for
some lifts and vegetable diesel fuel for its snowcats. Carbondale's
Catherine Store just started selling veggie oil, clean burning
fuel for biodiesals, (like the Volkswagen Jetta) - also solutions
for farmers and world peace," said Chaffee, who was related
to the late Senator John Chafee, who wrote the Clean Air Act.
The Roaring Fork Valley
was also honored to have Loya's friend, Woody Vaspra, President
of the World Council of Elders, share his Hawaiian prayer song
at the Sunlight event. Following three days of beautiful sunny
skiing and cultural events, thanks to the Great Spirit, (feathers
and snow/rain don't mix), it is now snowing again in the Aspen
Valley!
Contact: Native American Olympic Team Foundation, 23 Upper Ranch Rd, Aspen, Co
81611, 970-922 5406, for more information or pictures: www.nativevoices.org
