The gymnasium at the Ute Mountain Recreation Center was transformed into a Grinch-themed holiday scene Wednesday morning as volunteers prepared a meal for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s Christmas celebration.
Bright-green trees – featuring Whoville’s whimsical bend – lined the center of the gym in Towaoc, alongside dozens of decorated Christmas trees and lights. Green-and-red balloons and cutouts of the Grinch dangled overhead, while elders were seated up front and served first, with families filtering in throughout the morning.
Voices of preschoolers and grade schoolers filled the gym, singing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” to kick off the all-day gathering. Organizers said the event was designed to create a space for connection, and some said they saw faces they hadn’t seen in a year.
“This whole event is really produced for the community by the community,” said Sonya Cuthair, a visual communicator for the tribe’s media department. “We try to focus most of these events around the elders, because we want them to come out and enjoy life.”
Tribal members of all ages attended the celebration, which included a meal, student performances, raffles, contests and visits from Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch.
Organized by multiple tribal departments, the lead coordinator was Clessa Eyetoo of the tribe’s human resources department. Cuthair said the celebration also marked the first time in many years that such a large Christmas event was held at the recreation center rather than the casino.
“As a matter of fact, I just heard the story the other day. They said it’s been 30 years since they’ve done something like this here,” Cuthair said. “I’m not going to say they’re not opposed to change. They’re afraid of change. So it was like, it didn’t work out 30 years ago – what makes you think it’s going to work out now?”
The event drew more than 390 guests Wednesday afternoon. The meal included mashed potatoes, corn and salads, followed by carrot, vanilla and German chocolate cakes. Volunteers moved between tables as music carried across the gym, and children waved toward family members while performing rounds of Christmas favorites.
Before one performance, the party’s master of ceremonies, Sheila Nanaeto, encouraged students on stage.
“All right class, wave to your family out there, your aunties and uncles, say hello. You get to sing for them today,” Nanaeto said.
“It looks like a success so far,” Cuthair added. “And you know what? It’s a good thing to bring the community back together.”
Cuthair and Ute Mountain media director Ayesha Clark said planning for the celebration begins about six months in advance and requires coordination among department heads across tribal administration.
Tribal Chairman Selwyn Whiteskunk addressed the crowd Wednesday afternoon, wishing attendees a merry Christmas and Happy New Year on behalf of the tribal council. He joked that council members had hoped to cook the meal themselves and perhaps next year, teasing the entire council still might sing for them.
Near the side of the gym, Cuthair, Clark and the Weenuche Smoke Signals media team operated a photo booth with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch. After taking photos, families wrote down their names and phone numbers to receive the images later by email or text.
“This is where we find out who you’re related to,” Cuthair said. “Sometimes people bring relatives from Southern Utes and the Northern Utes, and powwows are where we start meeting other families from different tribes.”
Members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe are also preparing to gather with other Ute nations for a Christmas Eve powwow, which includes dancing and prayer, Cuthair said.
“The reason they dance is when they’re dancing, they’re praying for the ones that count,” she said.
For Clark, the Christmas celebration is an intentional effort to reach community members who may not have large families nearby. It also serves as a counterpoint to negative narratives sometimes associated with tribal communities.
“We bring things together as a community. There’s news out there that’s been negative, and this is kind of like saying, ‘Hey, we have a positive aspect of life within our community,’” Clark said.
Clark said she wanted to thank several tribal departments and units that helped make the event possible: Human Resources, the Elder Care Center, Ute Mountain Recreation Center, Ute Mountain tribal administration and Public Works Department.
“I’m a tribal member, as well as I’m coming to these events and it is mostly all about coming together,” she said. “Just meeting people that you haven’t seen for a long time. It’s meaningful to us and to have that Christmas spirit, making memories.”
