THE INDEPENDENT

CULTURE

Indigenous People's Day 2025 Indigenous People's Day 2025

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | Written by Mya Simon, Photographed by M'iitra Pino

Indigenous People's Day 2025

October rain does little to keep FLC from celebrating Indigenous culture 

Banging Heads in Buckley Park Banging Heads in Buckley Park

Thursday, October 2, 2025 | Mya Simon and Garrett Middleton

Banging Heads in Buckley Park

Locals share an inside look into Durango's metal scene. 

59th Annual Hozhoni Days Powwow 59th Annual Hozhoni Days Powwow

Friday, May 2, 2025 | Written by Junior Parrish, Photographed by Donovan Riley and Junior Parrish

59th Annual Hozhoni Days Powwow

An event that brings joy and beauty, Hozhoni Ambassadors and First Attendant said.

La Plata County sees increase in fentanyl cases

By Julian Zastrocky Indy Staff Writer

Last week, the La Plata County coroner released an autopsy report that confirmed that a student at Animas High School had died of a fentanyl overdose, bringing concern to the community about the drug’s prevalence in La Plata County. 

Last week, the La Plata County coroner released an autopsy report that confirmed that a student at Animas High School had died of a fentanyl overdose, bringing concern to the community about the drug’s prevalence in La Plata County.  In recent years, La Plata County has seen a significant increase in the amount of fentanyl-related cases, Casey Malone, a commander at the Durango...

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All hail the queens All hail the queens

All hail the queens

By Tiara Yazzie and Alx Lee Indy Staff Writers

PHOTO ESSAY: Durango’s popular drag scene arrives on campus

Kassandra Carrasco, Assistant Director of El Centro and The G, felt like there was a lack of LGBTQ representation on campus, she said.   After attending Drag Trivia at the Starlight Lounge in downtown Durango,Carrasco took interest in the connection of Puerto Rican descendancy and drag queen identity of the host, Aria PettyOne. Carrasco noticed the intersectionalities of...

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Can you dig it? Can you dig it?

Can you dig it?

By Mia McCormick Indy Staff Writer

Historical or hideous: Buried cars on campus once served as erosion control. But now, some say they’re little more than trash.

Imagine walking down a trail or beside a riverbank and coming upon an old rusty car sticking out of the ground. Deep in the forest behind the Bader Snyder dorms at FLC, there lie two buried cars with caved-in roofs and hollow windows protruding from the earth.The rusty cars look decades old. They are mildly dilapidated and covered with graffiti. The interior, except for the steering wheel, is...

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16 Shades of Green 16 Shades of Green

16 Shades of Green

By Garrett Middleton Indy Staff Writer

Through a largely student-run group, The Environmental Center, sixteen project leaders aim to keep the college environmentally conscious through a variety of efforts.

How does Fort Lewis involve students in campus sustainability? Through a largely student-run group, The Environmental Center, sixteen project leaders aim to keep the college environmentally conscious through a variety of efforts. The FLC Environmental Center is a Student Sponsored Organization in which students are given the chance to run campus sustainability projects with the assistance...

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Slacking off at Bader Snyder Slacking off at Bader Snyder

Slacking off at Bader Snyder

By Bailey Duplessis Indy Staff Writer

Rain, wind or shine, FLC students can’t stop walking the line.

Walking in a straight line doesn't seem so hard right? Try doing it on a piece of webbing that is only a couple inches wide and above the ground. This is called slacklining.  Slacklining, nicknamed slacking, is a popular sport around Fort Lewis College with brightly colored lines set up constantly connecting the trees of the campus.  The most popular place to find...

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