{"id":105351,"date":"2016-05-02T22:48:27","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T04:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/southern-ute-elder-to-discuss-significance-of-bear-dance\/"},"modified":"2016-05-02T22:48:27","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T04:48:27","slug":"southern-ute-elder-to-discuss-significance-of-bear-dance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/southern-ute-elder-to-discuss-significance-of-bear-dance\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Ute elder to discuss significance of Bear Dance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"The
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe celebrates the Bear Dance each year in Ignacio. Next week, tribal elder Russell Box, Sr. will give a presentation at the Ignacio Community Library on the springtime rite\u2019s historical and cultural importance.<\/span>Jeremy Wade Shockley\/The Southern Ute Drum file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Next week, a Southern Ute tribal elder will give a presentation explaining the cultural and historical significance of the upcoming<\/p>\n

Russell Box, Sr., who will lead the May 12 workshop at the Ignacio Community Library, refers to the traditional springtime rite as an \u201cawakening of life\u201d through which women are honored.<\/p>\n

\u201cI say it\u2019s an awakening of life, because even my own people say it\u2019s a social dance. It\u2019s not that way. It has a lot of meaning and purpose to it,\u201d said Box, who has participated in the dance since childhood. \u201cThe Bear Dance tells us to honor the women, but we don\u2019t do that in this society, do we?\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the oldest traditional Southern Ute ceremonies, the Bear Dance dates to the 15th century. It is characterized as a \u201cwomen\u2019s dance\u201d because participating women choose their male partners, which is done by flicking their shawls at the intended dancer. Those who refuse must pay a price to the woman who asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you spend most of your time inside during the winter, you call it \u2018cabin fever,\u2019 and when spring comes you want to participate in things you are familiar with,\u201d Box said. \u201cThis is the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bear Dance will take place May 27-30. The ceremonies are open to the public.<\/p>\n

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If you go<\/h4>\n

Russell Box, Sr. will speak from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 12 in the Community Room of the Ignacio Community Library at 470 Goddard Ave.
\n Attendees must register in advance through the at<\/p>\n

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