Speakers & performers

Born and raised in southwestern Colorado, currently resides on the Ute Mountain Ute reservation in the small community named Towaoc. Of the Unitah and Weeminuche bands and enrolled in the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. At an early age, I began to advocate for land, air, water, and animals, and strongly believes that the inner core of healing comes from the knowledge of our land and elders. Graduated from Chief Dull Knife College with AAS in Business Management. Received a bachelor’s degree in information technology and spent 12 years in the industry. October of 2013 was elected to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal council. During the time served on the Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition and was selected to serve as one of the original co-chairs. During that time as an elected official had the opportunity to publish my first essay in the Red Rock Testimony: Three Generations of Writers Speak on Utah Public Lands. Since, Op-Eds, essays, magazine articles, book introduction and Afterwords have been published in respect to the Indigenous voice of the land. Formerly worked for the Montezuma Land Conservancy as the Cross-Cultural Programs Director. The land, water and relationship building are the core of my efforts. For the past several years serving on the Telluride Institute Board, Telluride Foundation, Advisory Board for Great Old Broads for Outdoors, Torrey House Press Board, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and advisor for the Women of Bears Ears. Former Secretary Haaland appointed to serve the Bears Ears National Monument Management Advisory Committee. Today resides in the tribal community of Towaoc, raising her two granddaughters and continues to advocate for a better understanding of what it means to celebrate her homecoming to traditional and aboriginal homelands of the Utes. She continues to travel extensively throughout the country sharing the Ute culture through song, dance, presentations, and is honored to continue to protect, preserve and serve through education. Creating a better understanding of our resources, Ute culture and beliefs— firmly believes this is the greatest foundation for a better tomorrow.

Born in southwestern Colorado, is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana. Split his childhood between the Ute Mountain Ute community of Towaoc, Colorado, and the Northern Cheyenne tribal community of Busby, Montana. Raised with both Ute and Cheyenne lifeways, he has developed deep respect for the land, water, and natural world we live in. He grew up dancing and making dreamcatchers. While spending time with his grandfather, Norman Lopez, he picked up the flute. In life, he learned to listen to his surroundings and read the emotions of all that is near and to put them into his heartfelt flute music. Has traveled extensively with his mother, Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, as she advocates as a leader, mother, grandmother, and human being.

Norman Lopez was born and raised at an area known as Marianna Springs on the Ute Mountain Ute reservation, in Colorado. He was raised by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lopez till the age of seven years old. After the passing of his grandmother he was taken to Ignacio boarding school in Ignacio, Colorado. From the age of twelve and seventeen, Norman was shifted back and forth between the boarding school and public schools within the area. In 1963, he left to Ft. Worth Trade School to study auto mechanics in Ft. Worth, Texas. After completing his trade, he returned to the reservation and worked part time as a mechanic for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. While working he attended Montezuma Cortez High School and graduated with the Class of 1965. He went on to Ft. Lewis College, majoring in Art. October 30, 1967, Norman married Glenda Colorow and made Towaoc, Colorado, their home. For eight years he served as the Community Service Director and was the interpreter for the late Chief Jack House, the last traditional chief for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Chief Jack House, who of course spoke the English language well, used Norman as council away from the tribal council. This was a very influential part of Norman’s life. In Norman’s words “for over thirty years I have committed my service to my tribe in various positions. I completed my service as the Weenuche Smoke Signal Newspaper Director.” Through it all, Norman is a traditional musician. Enjoys playing his flute, singing with the family at the drum and rejoices in sharing the dance floor with his daughter, sons and grandchildren. Songs, dance and prayers are the glue to hold our family together.

Kai has been a principal member of CELDF since 2009. After spending 13 years organizing for CELDF in the Northwest and Hawaii, Kai took over as Executive Director. His experience as a seasoned community organizer and movement specialist is helping to guide CELDF into its next 30 years. He teaches, presents, and writes extensively on movement building, community rights, rights of nature, and the intersection of culture and law.

Farley Ketchum Sr. is an enrolled member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, spiritual leader, and wildlife biologist technician based in Towaoc, Colorado. He serves as Bear Dance Chief, maintaining the tribe's sacred springtime ceremony, and as a spiritual mentor guiding vision quests and Sun Dance. Ketchum bridges traditional ecological knowledge with modern environmental conservation, stewarding native plant restoration projects and managing tribal ecosystem health. His work centers on honoring ancestral lands while addressing climate change and protecting wildlife populations on tribal territories.

Roland McCook is a distinguished Ute Elder, historian, and former chairman of the Northern Ute Tribe (Uintah and Ouray Reservation). A direct descendant of Chief John McCook and brother to Chipeta, he has dedicated decades to preserving and teaching Ute history, genealogy, and cultural traditions. McCook worked extensively with the Smithsonian Institution on repatriating Native American remains and sacred objects, and served as a key consultant for the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose. He frequently presents on Ute history and the enduring presence of Ute peoples in Colorado and Utah.

Marisela Ballesteros made history as the first Indigenous Cora person elected to the Gunnison City Council in December 2023, and was selected by fellow council members to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. Trilingual in Cora, Spanish, and English, she serves as a cultural bridge between the city and Gunnison's large Cora community (roughly 25% of Spanish speakers). On council, she advocates for economic equity, affordable housing, and multicultural community needs. She also directs operations at Project Hope, supporting victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, and has collaborated on research addressing healthcare disparities facing the Cora population.

Tina King Washington is a lifelong Indigenous educator and visionary founder of Kwiyagat Community Academy (KCA), Colorado's first public charter school located on an Indian reservation. As former K-12 Education Director for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, she recognized that Ute youth faced disproportionate discipline and exclusion in off-reservation schools. In response, she founded KCA to create a space where Native children thrive. The school's innovative dual curriculum weaves Ute language, ancestral history, and cultural identity into standard academics. Washington continues to lead the KCA board while consulting with the Colorado Department of Education on culturally-responsive pedagogy for Indigenous students statewide.

Dr. John Hausdoerffer is Director of Story and Strategic Partnerships at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in Gothic, Colorado, where he leads initiatives bridging Western climate science with Indigenous knowledge systems. He collaborates closely with Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute leaders to explore how traditional ecological knowledge complements decades of scientific research. A key focus is studying how climate change affects the timing of alpine plants that guide sacred Ute ceremonies, ensuring cultural continuity amid ecological disruption. An environmental philosopher and founding Dean of Western Colorado University's School of Environment and Sustainability, Hausdoerffer centers his work on environmental ethics, social justice, and equitable partnerships with Indigenous communities.

Adrian H Molina, known as Molina Speaks, is an artist, poet, and master of ceremonies working at Warm Cookies of the Revolution, an organization that harnesses creativity as a tool for civic engagement and social change. As a New America US@250 Fellow, Molina designs cultural programs, weaves poetry into community gatherings, and leads the Future Town initiative, which explores how creative practice can strengthen local democracy and community resilience. His work bridges art, storytelling, and civic participation using ceremony and verse to activate collective imagination.

Stevie Selby is a visual storyteller, musician, and creative collaborator at Warm Cookies of the Revolution. Through photography, videography, and DJ sets, he captures and amplifies community moments. His work bridges music and visual media, creating multisensory experiences that honor the creativity and energy of collective spaces and civic celebrations.

Etienne Tolno is a professional West African musician from Guinea specializing in percussion, dance, and vocal traditions. A practicing musician since age sixteen, he has performed with renowned ensembles including the Kissidugu Ensemble and Samato De Guinea. Since arriving in the United States in 2019, he has taught and performed at workshops, conferences, and school residency programs across the country. Based in Montrose, Colorado, Etienne is dedicated to building West African Drum and Dance education and cultural exposure in Southwest Colorado. As a member of the Kissidugu Foundation and younger brother to world-renowned artist Gabriel Fara Tolno, he is committed to preserving and perpetuating Guinean music and culture.