Erin Hanson's painting Cottonwood Flame: cottonwoods in orange and gold leaf against a cobalt sky and red cliffs, dry grass below.

The Learning Council & the Migrant & Rural Coalition present

Cottonwood Convergence

A Council to ReMember

– Paonia, Colorado

Get your tickets See the schedule

artwork by Erin Hanson

Cottonwood Convergence honors Ute tribal nations as the original stewards of this land.

Erin Hanson's painting Cottonwood Flame, whole: a cottonwood in orange and gold leaf against a cobalt sky and red cliffs, a grove behind it, dry grass and sage in the foreground.
artwork by Erin Hanson

A weekend of weaving together Indigenous knowledge, thriving ecosystems, and visions for our collective future

Cottonwood Convergence is a multi-cultural council in the North Fork Valley, bringing together members of Ute tribal nations whose ancestors were displaced from it, migrant communities, and regional residents. We’re creating intentional space to center indigenous, immigrant, and community voices and perspectives, weaving stories and crafts more fully into the valley’s cultural fabric. Together, we’ll celebrate our diversity, learn from one another, and begin to reimagine our collective future.

Since the sacred Ute Council Tree in Delta was cut down, The Learning Council has been engaged in repairing and deepening the ties with Ute nations. Cottonwood Convergence is designed to honor the hard work and struggle that our many communities have experienced, and to mark the start of a new chapter in diverse cultural collaborations.

The Convergence will host Ute, indigenous, migrant and community educators, artists, musicians, and crafters who will lead presentations, share their work, and participate alongside workshops from the various cultures represented. Events will include ecological justice, seed swaps, talks and roundtable discussions, art jams and public installations, music, dance, feasts, storytelling and healing. Food will be local, organic, and cooked fresh by The Learning Council.

  • Storytelling & skill shares
  • Visionary art jams
  • Indigenous cultural ReMembering
  • Educational presentations
  • Seed saving & regenerative farming
  • Civic community action
  • Music, movement & celebration
  • Council, ceremony & prayer
  • Gathering, grieving & feasting

Schedule

Online ticketing Tickets can also be purchased in person.

Friday, November 13

  1. 2 – 6 pm Check-In, The Hearth main hall. Welcome, orientation, buy a ticket.
  2. 4 – 5:30 pm Opening Ceremony with Roland McCook Sr., The Hearth main hall. Welcome, orient, open ceremony, introduce reps from all cultural aspects, set intention for the Land Acknowledgement.
  3. 6 – 7:30 pm Dinner, The Hearth: main hall and garden. Reserve your meal ahead of time.
  4. 8 – 9 pm Sage on the Stage: Traditional Harvesting & How it's Impacted by Climate & Policy with Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, The Hearth main hall.
  5. 9 – 11 pm DJ At the Hearth with Stevie Selby, The Hearth main hall. Music, Dance & Flow with Warm Cookies of the Revolution.
  6. 9 – 10 pm Venus Rising: Astrological Poetry, Planetary Cycles & Right Relationship with Ramon Parish, The Hearth garden.

Alongside the program: TLC Kitchen, 2 – 10 pm; Hearth Fire, 6 pm – midnight; Child care, 9 – 11 pm; Diversity Library, 11 pm – midnight.

Saturday, November 14

  1. 9 – 11 am Coffee & Snacks, The Hearth main hall.
  2. 10 am – noon Traditional Ute Beadwork with Beverly Lehi Yazzie, Diversity Library. Supplies provided.
  3. 10:30 – 11:30 am Community Resistance + Resilience in the Name of Disruption, The Hearth main hall. Panelists: Kai Huschke, Xander Hughes, Alicia Michelsen, Marisela Ballesteros, Jessica Chacón, and Agueda Morgan. Facilitated by Natasha Léger.
  4. noon – 3 pm Lunch, Paonia Town Park.
  5. 1 – 3 pm Cottonwood Convergence Council: From Acknowledgement to Belonging, Stewardship & Repair, Paonia Town Park. A council circle of Ute leaders and migrant community members, open to the public.
  6. 1 – 3 pm Storytelling & Crafting God's Eyes with Victor Flores, Paonia Town Park. With Arts For All.
  7. 4 – 5 pm Ute History with Roland McCook Sr., The Hearth main hall.
  8. 4 – 5 pm NFV Ag, Stewardship & the Lifeways of Seed with Laura Parker & Mark Waltermire, The Hearth garden.
  9. 6 – 7 pm Live Set with Fuerza Cora Brasil Musical, The Hearth main hall.
  10. 6 – 7:30 pm Dinner, The Hearth main hall. Reserve your meal ahead of time.
  11. 8 pm – midnight Culture Jam, Paradise Theatre. Facilitated by Adrian H Molina (Molina Speaks). Variety Show Format like Bilingual Creative Circus Vibe.
    1. Sage on the Stage: Tobacco Plant Medicine with Farley Ketchum Sr.
    2. Variety acts with Norman Lopez, Jacoby WhiteDirt, Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, Etienne Tolno, Xavier Saenz (Xavi), DJ Soul Candy, and more.

Alongside the program: TLC Kitchen, 9 am – 9 pm; Mindful Morning in the tradition of Plum Village & Thich Nhat Hanh, upstairs in the Hearth office, 10 am – noon; Child care, 10:30 – 11:30 am; Arts For All: kids' activity zone & face painting, Paonia Town Park, 1 – 3 pm; Hearth Fire, 7:30 pm – midnight.

Sunday, November 15

  1. 8:30 – 10 am Coffee & Snacks, The Hearth: main hall and garden.
  2. 9 – 10 am River Walk Prayer Walk with Jeff Wagner, Museum & River Park.
  3. 10 – 11 am Land Acknowledgement Reading with Alicia Michelsen, Museum & River Park.
  4. 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Lunch, The Hearth garden. Reserve your meal ahead of time.
  5. 1 – 2 pm Weaving a Future Together: Cultures, Histories, and Collective Reimagining with Joe Bob Merritt, The Hearth main hall. Panelists: Farley Ketchum Sr., Dr. John Hausdoerffer, Angeles Mendez, Amanda Sage, and Adrian H Molina (Molina Speaks).
  6. 2:30 – 3:30 pm Closing Ceremony: ReMember Us All with Adrian H Molina (Molina Speaks), The Hearth main hall.

Alongside the program: Child care, 1 – 2 pm.

Venues

If you’re drawn to regenerative culture, Ute leadership, ecological healing, or strengthening the bonds between disparate local communities, come join us for the first-ever Cottonwood Convergence. We are still seeking sponsorships for this event!

Write to Alicia and Emily

Contact alicia@thelearningcouncil.org and emily@thelearningcouncil.org if you’d like to sponsor, collaborate or have questions.

(We are no longer taking applications for presenters or volunteers)