Cultural Programs
Code Talker | Ute Flute Player | Lakota Flute Player | Navajo Artist | Pottery
Code Talker: Samuel Sandoval
Schedule: 8:30pm Mondays and Thursdays
Admission: Free
Samuel F. Sandoval is one of the last remaining Navajo Code Talkers that served in WWII. He did five combat tours in the South Pacific during World War II against the Japanese and holds several military medals and awards. In 2000 he was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal.
The Navajo Code Talkers were recently featured in the movie Windtalkers. At his appearances Samuel shares some of his WWII experiences with the audience and always tries to place the role of the Navajo Code Talkers into historical and social perspective.
Ute Flute Player: Norman Lopez
Schedule: 8:30pm Wednesdays
Admission: Free
Norman Lopez is a Ute Mountain Ute storyteller, historian and flute player, who tries to enlighten the audience with a brief recourse of Ute history, his own background and his belief system.
Norman emphasizes the Ute's close ties with nature as well as their spiritual concepts of life. He talks about his flutes and music, and shares some of his flute playing with the audience. On rare occasions, he will have tapes of his beautiful flute playing for sale.
Lakota Flute Player: David Nighteagle
Schedule: 8:30pm Tuesdays
Admission: Free
David Nighteagle is a flute player and storyteller extraordinaire. David combines his Lakota knowledge of flute making, playing, and stories to engage audiences.
His recordings include Torn From the Heart: The Journey, Mesa Anthology, and Circle Around the Moon. Mesa Anthology was recorded at Mesa Verde National Park. David has performed for student groups nationwide.
Navajo Artist: Jerry Cohoe
Schedule: 8:30pm Fridays
Admission: Free
Artist Jerry Cohoe is the son of a Diné (Navajo) medicine man from Tocito, New Mexico. Jerry is the third of six children. His mother is from the Bit'ahnii (leaf) clan and his father from the 'Ashiihi (salt people) clan. Jerry feels that his curiosity in art dates back to early childhood watching his mother weave intricate traditional Diné rug designs or seeing ritualistic sand paintings created on hogan floors during his father's healing ceremonies. Even though this interest in art started when he could first hold a pencil Jerry became serious about his talent in 1983. Jerry's work reflects his Diné heritage mixed with the influences of the white man's society. Most of his studies are framed in the setting of the Great Diné Nation, where his roots and heart are firmly planted.
Purchase prints of some of Jerry Cohoe's work in our giftshop or online.
