Our Culture

The cultural resources department is dedicated to the preserving the tribe’s culture and history. The effort involves repatriation of remains found in the areas of the Southern Paiute Tribe Homelands, engagement with local schools, visits to culturally significant areas of the five bands, and archiving and cataloging resource materials and recordings.

Cultural Resources Contact Information:

Shelby Chapoose, Cultural Resource Manager
Paiute Tribe Cultural Resources
440 North Paiute Drive
Cedar City, UT 84721

Phone: 435-586-1112
Email: schapoose@pitu.gov

Fax: 435-586-7388

Why the Moon Paints Her Face Black – available through the Capitol Reef National Park Book Store.
Call (435) 425-4106 for more information.

Keeping Culture Alive – read multiple stories from Southern Paiutes through the Salt Lake Tribune.

Past Event Photo Galleries

2025 Mukuntuweap Zion Prayer Run

After the success of last year’s event, the Tribe was excited to once again work conjointly with the National Park Service and Zion Forever Project to host the all-gender Mukuntuweap Zion Prayer Run on Friday, April 25.

It was a beautiful day for Tribal Members, descendants, and family members to reconnect with the ancestral homeland through prayer and song. Participants ran not only for themselves but for the land and for those who could not run.

To view the photo gallery, click here.

2024 Fall Gathering Weekend

The Fall Gathering was created to honor the culture and language of Southern Paiutes and detail current preservation efforts.

Held in the beautiful Hunter Alumni Center on the campus of Southern Utah University in Cedar City, this year’s event took place Friday, Nov. 22, and featured educational and cultural presentations, a youth track, refreshments and lunch, family portraits, and a fashion show.

On Friday evening after the Gathering, a water panel was held that featured community leaders, environmental advocates, and local experts discussing the implications of the proposed Pine Valley Pipeline. This was followed by the premiere of the short film “O-vi-uk Pah Ma’-va. The Plight of the Kwee’choovunt and Their Federal Water Rights.”

To read more about the weekend and view the photo galleries, click here.

‘We’re Still Here’: Paxetsi Pai Day

The inaugural Paxetsi Pai (Fish Lake) Day was held at the Twin Creeks recreation site on Fish Lake on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The weather at the event, presented by the PITU Cultural Department with support from the Puow’wan Program, was a little chilly in the shade, but deep blue skies prevailed as approximately 60 members of the Tribe gathered under the pavilion to listen to a presentation, share a meal, and visit with friends and family (and hopefully win one of several awesome raffle prizes).

To read the event recap and view the photo gallery, click here.

Kwanants Pi’yum Camp

Presented by the PITU Cultural Department with support from the Puow’wan Program, in conjunction with the Southern Paiute Bands and Zion National Park Forever Project, the Kwanants Pi’yum (“Eagle Heart”) youth camp was held Aug. 2-4, 2024. Participants learned about Paiute language skills, cultural values, Paiute oral history, and societal and community customs and norms, as well as getting the opportunity to enjoy some recreational activities as well.

To view the photo gallery, click here.