IGNACIO – The Southern Ute Indian Tribe flag was hoisted onto the flagpole at Ignacio High School on Thursday, signifying the first time it has been displayed in the school’s history.
It was done to recognize Indigenous cultures and its ties to Ignacio School District during the Native American Youth Organization’s Native American Heritage Celebration.
“I am a Southern Ute tribal member, and I do think it should have been established a long time ago for the fact that we are a sovereign nation,” NAYO sponsor Kristean Velasquez said.
She said through the organization she would like to be a bridge between the Southern Ute tribe and the town of Ignacio and Ignacio School District.
The Southern Ute flag had never previously been flown at Ignacio High School. The goal was to give students of Indigenous backgrounds a sense of pride. Velasquez, who works with a volunteer at Ignacio High School, said that cultural differences between the Southern Ute Tribe and the school district had created dysfunction.
By flying the Southern Ute flag, it’s a positive step toward understanding much of Ignacio and the Southern Ute Tribe’s cultural history, she said.
Another part of this ceremony was to promote and raise money for NAYO.
Velasquez’s uncle, Joseph Valasquez, founded the organization in the 1970s. However, it struggles to maintain consistent support, she said.
Velasquez’s mission behind NAYO is to advocate for all youths, not just tribal members. She said it’s important to her that while NAYO is a group based in Native American culture, it’s also important to have open conversations with all students, the school district and the town about cultural differences.
Velasquez also wants NAYO to join the United National Indian Tribal Youth, which is a national organization that helps student gain hands-on and cultural learning experiences.
“It’s a lot of conversations and a lot of clearing up confusion,” she said. “Because once again, it goes back to the cultural differences. One word might mean one thing to me and you might interpret it differently.”
Students performed dances and handed out fry bread during the event. Former Southern Ute Tribal Chairman Howard Richards Sr. and Southern Ute Tribal Councilman Andrew Gallegos also attended.
“You have to understand that we go into military for one purpose, to defend your flag, the American flag,” Richards said as the flag was being raised.
Richards, whose uncle served in the military, said he’d been taught to always pay respect to the American flag since his childhood. Richards cofounded the Southern Ute Veterans Association in 1986, and he was nominated to the state’s board of Veterans Affairs earlier this year.
NAYO members placed the Southern Ute flag underneath the American flag. A Southern Ute honor song was performed to commemorate the raising of the flag.
“It just signifies not just to myself, but to Indigenous youth within the school, you’re not alone,” Velasquez said. “And I think it’s important. I do believe in pushing academics and culture as the same.”
tbrown@durangoherald.com
