Earlier today, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve was honored to have Ute Elder Roland McCook present Ute culture and history at the amphitheater to an audience of 80 visitors. During the presentation, Morgan Dawn Allen and her daughter provided materials and helped children make free beaded bracelets. This special event was made possible due to the generous support of Western National Parks Association @wnpa_1938 . Photos: NPS/Brady Richards 1) Wearing a traditional beaded light green Ute shirt made of deerskin, Roland McCook speaks at the amphitheater as children are busy making beaded jewelry in the background. In the distance are the tall dunes. 2) Morgan Dawn Allen and her daughter, wearing traditional white blouses and patterned dresses, help multiple children and their parents create beautiful bead bracelets that they will take home. 3) In this view from behind, part of the audience of 80 visitors watch Roland McCook present Ute culture and history at the park amphitheater. The foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains are in the background. 4) A patterned, multi-colored bead bracelet made by Morgan Dawn Allen is laying on top of a blue table at the event. 5) Roland McCook puts on his father’s feathered headdress as he discusses an emotional story about his late father. The dunes rise in the background. 6) Great Sand Dunes Volunteer Louise Bean and Morgan Dawn Allen’s daughter clean up the beading table after the event. 7) Great Sand Dunes Intern Jaiden Garcia, a member of the Jicarilla Apache tribe, thanks Roland McCook for his presentation. Jaiden is doing an internship program this summer through @conservation_legacy .