Four Corners • Entered by Jennifer Singer on August 10, 2022
Utah Diné Bikéyah Summer Gathering volunteer
July 22, 2022 – July 24, 2022
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 36 |
| Post Admin hours | 0 |
| Activity Hours | 36 |
| Participants | 2 |
| Total Hours | 108 |
Key Issue: Wilderness & Monument Designation/Protection
Activity Type: Relationship Building with non-white and/or frontline communities (relational meetings, attending events, community support, etc.)
Key Partners: Sally Sharp
Landscape/area: Bears Ears National Monument (FS) (1351837 acres)
Short Description of Activity
Sally asked me to volunteer to help Utah Din√© Bik√©yah at their Bears Ears Summer Gathering and to build relationships with our Utah neighbors. We camped for three days and helped as a volunteer to setup the giant tent, register participants, and give out Tshirts, hang signs, be a runner for supplies and people. The first night we met in a giant teepee with elders telling us how to be respectful of native people’s stories in media. So it’s good we gave Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk a flyer with a pic of her family to honor her accomplishments and offer our help to her many projects, instead of a business card!
Reflection/Evaluation
Yes. I met new people and Zoom people and built new connections. Sally’s friend Sergio talked alot about border issues. Our Broadband plans to help Emily with a Broadwalk she is planning. She’s a member of our Broadband and a leader of her local Broadband. Sergio told us about a ranch across the border in Mexico with ocelots and all kinds of wild animals. The rancher noticed the deer and saw an ocelot so he moved his cattle and created a wildlife sanctuary. Now it’s a tourist attraction. I hope part of Emily’s Broadwalk includes a visit to the wildlife sanctuary. I attended the Welcome of the Horse Riders- a ceremony honoring the those that passed that year with the rider less horse tradition. I didn’t take pictures of ceremonies as it’s not respectful.