The event was co-hosted by Olympic skier Suzy "Chapstick" Chaffee, co-founder of Native American Olympic Team Foundation's (NVF) Ute Ski Program in Telluride with Alden Naranjo, Southern Ute unity leader. The much needed snow reminded Tel-Ski's new regime of the magical snowblessing that inspired Ron Allred to pioneer the program eight years ago.

"It was raining yesterday and looked like the season was over. I admit I was a skeptic until I woke up this morning to a blanket of snow," said Kit Collins, who spearheaded the community's restoration of the Ute Ski program. But everything changed when the Ute kids, and Southern Ute traditional Elders, Eddy and Betty Box Jr, rode into town on the eve of the ceremony. This time they were hosted at Telluride's lovely Camels Garden Hotel.

Eddy and the tribes had been saluted by Colorado Ski Country in November, for leading the "Thank you Snowdance" that inspired the most abundant early snow in Colorado ever. Therefore, Eddy came to Telluride to thank Creator and Mother Earth...who listen. So has the ski industry. In January's Skiing Magazine, NVF's snowdances were the alternative to costly cloud seeding. "This is a good way to create more harmony between our cultures and Mother Earth, while helping our youth lead healthy, productive lives," said Box.

The press conference, covered on Channel 13, also honored other "Heroes to the Tribes and Earth" on the final day of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association (NASJA conference. President Claudia Carbone shared the same sentiment as David Glynn, former Ophir Mayor and freestyle champion, who took the Utes skiing...: "Of course we should share skiing with the tribes, we're on their land."

Michael Berry, President of the National Ski Area Association (NSAA), was saluted by Eddy Box for creating their "Sustainable Slopes Program," and seeing the need to work as a team, especially with the tribes, to help prevent snow and rain droughts and delay global warming. That's why he is presenting NVF's program to all their ski areas in their April Journal and next convention.

For donating $.5 million in "Donate-A-Ski/Board" gear to U.S. Tribes, (inspired by Abenaki Olympian Billy Kidd), David Ingimie, President of the Snowsports Industry of America, was also saluted. Ingimie wants to keep sharing the gear to make it easier for ski areas to adopt the program and help create a generation of Native Olympians.

Joanie Klar, NVF's Aspen-based board member, who just won the UN Eco Award, honored Michael Saftler, Telluride's Rabbi/ski instructor/guardian of the wetlands. As a result of the friendships formed through the ski program, Saftler created the first meeting between a ski town's council, tribal ecologists and press, which solved some of Telly's eco challenges almost overnight.

Eddy Box then led a blessing for the safety of the journalists who were racing in the snowstorm. He also honored Channel 13's Captain Jack Carey on behalf of the press, whose brother Chip was hosting the Northern Utes at Park City's Canyons the next day. Chaffee mentioned how critical the Telluride press, like Bob Beer, former editor of the Daily Planet, had been in pioneering the program and environmental progress. "This is a chance for our journalists to join the team to spread the word that ski areas can help preserve our awesome sport for future generations by connecting with their local tribes," said Chaffee.

Contact: Mike Speer for Christie Sports at: 303-327-6321 or cell 303-907-3769. Photos, including of the Utes on skis in regalia!...available on request mikespeer@comcast.net Contact: Suzy Chaffee for more background on NVF and "How To Plan an Event" on www.nativevoices.org, tel: 970-922 5406 or Suzynativevoices@aol.com