The Ute Mountain Ute Reservation was formed in 1897 by the Weeminuche Band of Utes. In 1895 they established a camp on the western end of the old Southern Ute Reservation, in what is today called Towaoc.
Towaoc is at the base of Sleeping Ute Mountain, which resembles a sleeping Indian with his headdress to the north. The legend is this was a Great Warrior God who helped fight against evil ones, and during the battle his feet formed the mountains and valleys. The Great Warrior God was wounded and while resting he fell into a deep sleep.
He continues to care for his people. Blood from his wound became living water and rain clouds come from his pockets. The changing of his blankets bring the seasons: dark green, yellow and red, and white.
Following are pictures taken from Towaoc to Four Corners on the Ute Indian Reservation...
The Four Corners is a region of the United States consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado, northwestern corner of New Mexico, northeastern corner of Arizona and southeastern corner of Utah. The Four Corners area is named after the quadripoint where the boundaries of the four states meet, where the Four Corners Monument is located. It is the only location in the United States where four states meet. Most of the Four Corners region belongs to semi-autonomous Native American nations, the largest of which is the Navajo Nation, followed by Hopi, Ute, and Zuni tribal reserves and nations.
Four Corners Monument surround by stalls with home-made Indian items for sale by individuals...
Shell and Britt, together in four states at once!!
We visited with several of the Native American vendors. There was so much beautiful work that we had a hard time picking something to buy. One vendor told me of the Navajo Ghost Beads "Cedar Juniper Berry Seeds".
These cedar berries are gathered by members of the Navajo and Ute Nations for the creation of ghost bead jewelry and crafts. The people are assisted by ants, who nibble off one end of the berry and eat the meat. The craftspeople need only punch a hole in the other end to string berries on a cord with colorful beads. The harmony that results from the interconnection of earth, tree, animal and human is believed to ensure tranquility and keep evil spirits away from the wearer. As he told me of searching for the beads in the area and making jewelry with them, I decided I just had to have one of his creations...
Britt was enchanted with the Kokopelli flute dancers. Kokopelli is a fertility deity, usually depicted as a humpbacked flute player (often with feathers or antenna-like protrusions on his head), who has been venerated by some Native American cultures in the Southwestern United States. Like most fertility deities, Kokopelli presides over both childbirth and agriculture. He is also a trickster god and represents the spirit of music. She purchased a pair of silver Kokopelli flute player earrings.
Ute Mountain Casino, just north of Four Corners, where we stayed one night while Britt could play the slots...
There was a windstorm that afternoon. I've never experienced attacking tumbleweeds before. The wind and dirt made it hard to see and the tumbleweeds were like little monsters rolling everywhere....the ground was alive with them and they were STICKERY! As we drove down the highway they were 'running' or tumbling across the road and looked ALIVE!
Later as the sun went down behind Ute Mountain, I sat on the balcony of the hotel to take pictures, while Britt played in the casino...
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