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.
Screaming Rubber Band Chickens Screaming Rubber Band Chickens

Screaming Rubber Band Chickens

AJ Repinski

Contestants test their pain limit for Snowdown glory.

  Contestants and spectators pack into 11th Street Station’s “Screaming Rubber Band Chickens” Snowdown event at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 2.    11th Street Owner Marcos Wisner prepares a tournament-style bracket for the event. Randomly drawn for the bracket after entering, contestants prepared themselves for several rounds of rubber band slaps all...

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Long Hair, Don’t Care, Guitars: Air Long Hair, Don’t Care, Guitars: Air

Long Hair, Don’t Care, Guitars: Air

Rusty Frank

With Durango’s winter festival in full swing, musicians and mimes converged for a night of lighthearted competition, with bonus points for ‘longest hair.'

  Tuesday night at Durango's Starlight Lounge was a kaleidoscope of locals and visitors alike dressed up in free-flowing tops and high-waisted apple bottom pants, tightly packed into a space buzzing with anticipation. As a newcomer to Durango, I was about to experience my first-ever Snowdown event: a 21+ ‘Long Hair Air Guitar Contest.’ What I walked into was a...

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Durango's Beloved Beaters Durango's Beloved Beaters

Durango's Beloved Beaters

Morgan Smith and Sienna Reese

Fort Lewis College students will drive anything with four wheels! 

Whether cars are used to get to the slopes, back home or simply the grocery store, some Fort Lewis College students see their vehicle as the connection they have to the world outside of campus.  Take a look into the tales of five FLC students and their beloved beaters, to see the trust, love and tears that are put into owning an old car.    1999 JEEP...

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Winter Wellbeing Winter Wellbeing

Winter Wellbeing

Lisia Lucero

Losing light and losing time but not losing yourself

What is your definition of self care? Alita Lynch Alita Lynch, 18, first-year student: Lynch defines self care as time with herself that is free of worries and free of figuring out if she needs to do work. Kaneesha Bitsinnie Kaneesha Bitsinnie, 19, first-year student: Bitsinnie said she sees self care as taking care of your well-being and doing more than you...

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My Friend Zoe My Friend Zoe

My Friend Zoe

Mia McCormick

Acquainting Myself with Death.

I’m sitting at the base of a gnarled pinion pine tree in the middle of the woods behind the Bader-Snyder complex. It’s dark and the rain has been pounding the saturated soil relentlessly, but I am dry, and looking up at my protector, the arching branches that stretch around me like arms.  The smell of earth, wet bark and seeping sap mingle in my nose as I close my eyes,...

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