The low grumble of thunder can signify a lot of things, like imminent rain, lightning and – run! In the Ute culture, it means the start of spring. Because thunder mimics the sound of a roaring bear, ...

In early September, my Ute Mountain Ute community in White Mesa celebrated our annual Bear Dance — three days of festivities, prayer and traditional Ute songs, which helped put Kwiyagtu, the Bear, to ...