Miracle - Snow Riders

Feather Cursor On

Off

1997 UTE FIRST WELCOMING HOME SKI CELEBRATION
A Dream Come True

Rollingbears and my dream of starting a Native Ski Program manifested like this:
(See also CBS Paula Zahn Video on www.NATIVEVOICES.org/VIDEO)

Eugene Naranjo, center, at Telluride's 1st Ute Celebration

In Sept '96, "Telluride sponsored a Wild West Classic" basically a "rendezvous" where mountain men and Indians share their fascinating cultures. At this event hosted by Sandra and Keith (a supporter) Carradine, I met Southern Ute unity leader Eugene Naranjo, founder of the world renowned "S. Ute Heritage Dancers" of Ignacio , CO , near Durango . He was proud having returned from their performing in the Opening Ceremonies at Gorby's Goodwill Games in St Petersburg .

I found myself inspired to ask Eugene , "How would you like to create a healing between our cultures?" After soul searching for a minute, he said, "We'd like to create a celebration of unity for the benefit of all our children." Listening to their sensitivities, resulted in our Ute (Nuche) Welcoming Home Ski Celebration.

The next step was to meet with the town's leaders to make it happen, so I invited Eugene for meetings on November 30th, combined with my Birthday party the night before. Everyone told him to stay home as there was a nasty snow storm. But he miraculously navigated over the Durango Pass in a white-out. "Every time I turned a corner the visibility cleared," he declared. All I wanted for my 50th was a Native Ski Program, and he blessed me, as well as everyone there with an eagle feather, and got the ball rolling to launch Telluride's first Native Ski Program.

Following Bear 4th snow miracle - saving the Kansas Farmers from the worst drought in 120 year, I realized that Mother Earth really listens, and found myself starting Native Voices Foundation. Ann Marie Adamo, a local lawyer, biker who was adopted by the Lower Brule Lakotas (whom we visited after attending Sturgess), graciously helped us do the paperwork. Rabbi Ski instructor Michael Saftler then shared his cool office, (and Jenny Russell, the Prosecuter later helped us secure our 501C3.)

Boo, one of my 12-yr-old "brave" (house guests), greeted me with "Hello Suzy Chapstick." On the way to the Ute Welcoming Ski event in Feb of 1997, I asked Boo, whose dad was a spiritual leader, what he would like to hear people say. His response was, "Whites have given us things, but never said why." (Wow, I thought of the guilt & denial that has been separating us)

It was a gorgeous day at "high noon" when the drums again echoed through the mountains as hundreds gathered in the Mt Village Plaza at the base of the slopes. Following Boo's lead, we exchanged (freeing) words from the heart after 25 exquisitely plumed dancers, singers, drummers,from both the Southern Ute and Ute Mt Tribes, bathed us in a circle of earth-loving "Chi" energy. Leaders of both sides then shared gestures of gratitude, gifts and prayers for the success of our coming together in the presence of a wounded eagle (from the Arc).

Holding her young son's hand, Judge Sharon Shuteran said, "I apologize for the injustices of my predecessors and hope for a better future." Dancing being a healer and ecstatic unifier that cuts across all differences, Eugene explained the meaning of some of their magnificent dances.

The little dancers then invited us to join them in a Friendship Circle . About 200 of us all joined hands and hearts, and by the end many had tears of hope for humanity. Among them were Telski owners, Ron and Joyce Allred and Jim Wells, Marketing Director, Mike Hess, and French Ski School Director Annie Savath, the folks with the foresight to make all this possible! Said Ron Allred, "This is our way to heal and honor the past with the People of the Shining Mountains (San Juans), and start a new beginning."

One of the gifts the Utes brought was a shining role model for the kids, Ross Anderson, a 24-yr old Cheyenne Speed Skier, whose came with a Japanese Film Crew en tow. Said Anderson , "I am the fastest Native American on Skis at 137 mph, and I am here to teach the Indian youth so they can beat my record someday." (He went on to be the Fastest American on Skis in 2006 at 154 mph, and last year won the Bronze in the 2005 World Speed Championships.

Along with Telluride's wonderful ski instructors, Ross and I took the youth skiing. Afterwards, many enjoyed skating, and then we all gathered for a party at the adobe I was staying at the base of 14,000 ft Mount Wilson . They then bedded down with their host families.

Ross was later dubbed by the Telluride Daily Planet, "A Human Boeing!" He went on to became our first Ambassador. And Alden Naranjo, Eugene's Unity brother, became my first wonderful co-founder and guide. "Each culture has a unique gift for humanity, and Indian youth carry these earth-honoring ceremonies and wisdom for future generations," said Alden.

Everyone felt so good about the Ute Welcoming that Telski agreed to invite the Utes, as well as Navajo, to ski and snowboard regularly. (Annie Savath had paved the way by inviting the Navajo to a ski weekend once a year.) It's success and snowblessings, including powder instead of slush at the end of the season following our Ute Gratitude Ceremonies, led to TelSki asking NVF to organize the Utes to open the National Snowboard Championships in 1999. At the same time the program was spreading to Steamboat, Vail and Aspen .

While Opening Telluride's World Snowboard Championships in 2000, after christening the stunning bronze sculptor of a Ute warrior, we got the idea of pushing to ensure that the 2002 Utah Olympics should definitely open honoring the First Americans.

In a letter from President Clinton (Cherokee) he said, "Congratulations for helping create intercultural harmony in America."

By the 10th anniversary of NVF, the program has spread to 60 ski areas, and the Snowsports Industry has donated millions worth in tickets, lessons, rental equipment and gear. And the SnowSports Industries of America, our Native American Olympic Tribal Sponsor, asked us to create www.SNOW-RIDERS.org to make it easier or all 320 ski areas to invite their nearby tribes to ski and snowboard and help "KEEP WINTERS COOL."

Index to a dozen Miracle Stories on this link box. Scroll & hit GO!