“Worship songs are some of the oldest ceremonies the Ute people have.”

Kathryn Jacket and her granddaughter Jeralyne Arnold are close. They spend most evenings together watching their favorite shows and talking on the living room couch. So when they sat down for an interview, Kathryn and Jeralyne were very much at ease with one another.

In this excerpt of their conversation, Kathryn sings a Ute worship song and talks about the meaning behind the lyrics.

Kathryn Jacket and Jeralyne Arnold are both members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

Pictured above: Kathryn Jacket attends a youth camp in Towaoc, Colorado. Summer, 2021.