Southern Paiute Fall Gathering Brings Community Together
Published: September 22, 2022 | Author: Southern Utah University | Read Time: 2 minutes
Southern Utah University and the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah invite the community to participate in the Southern Paiute Fall Gathering on September 30 and October 1 in Cedar City. The Gathering will bring knowledge keepers and teachers, as well as community members, together.
Earlier this year, SUU and the PITU began collaborating on the Southern Paiute Language Preservation Project, an effort to preserve the language and cultural heritage of the Southern Paiutes. The Fall Gathering event is one part of the Language Preservation Project and will celebrate and share the Southern Paiute language, culture, and current preservation efforts.
“Our goal is to preserve and teach our southern Paiute language, but it goes beyond that," said Shane Parashonts, tribal administrator. "We also want to preserve and perpetuate our culture, history, heritage, and traditions and teach others who we are as Nung'wu (Southern Paiutes)."
Dr. Stacey Oberley, Southern Ute Tribal Council member and specialist in Native American language and cultural preservation, will be the keynote speaker. Highlights also include a presentation on the value of oral history by Mr. Jedidiah Rogers, Utah Division of State History and a night sky program by Autumn Gillard, interpretive ranger at Pipe Springs National Monument. The two-day event will include panel discussions, presentations and demonstrations.
The event is supported in part by Utah Humanities and will be held on September 30 and October 1, 2022, in the R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center on the campus of SUU. Friday evening events will be held at the PITU gymnasium and pow wow grounds in Cedar City.
“SUU has a rich heritage in educating students in southern Utah,” said SUU Provost Jon Anderson. “This heritage includes a close connection with the indigenous communities of this region. We are honored to host the Southern Paiute Fall Gathering and support the Southern Paiute Language Preservation Project. We appreciate all who have put time into these efforts and the connections we are able to strengthen through this joint work.”
To attend the Southern Paiute Fall Gathering, register in advance at pitu.gov/fall-gathering. All are invited to attend this free event.
Tags: Cedar City