THE INDEPENDENT

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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. 

Safety First, Because Accidents Last
 Safety First, Because Accidents Last

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Nels Christensen

Safety First, Because Accidents Last

Fort Lewis police report safety statistics in recent years. 

Hotels: the new Dorms?
 Hotels: the new Dorms?

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Jimena Lopez

Hotels: the new Dorms?

Back to school! While some Fort Lewis students were making sure they had their backpacks ready to go, others were making sure they had somewhere...
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.
Students Test the Waters
 Students Test the Waters

Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Nels Christensen

Students Test the Waters

Students take leaps for public health.

All News

What’s fueling high gas prices? What’s fueling high gas prices?

What’s fueling high gas prices?

By Kealey Meyer Indy Staff Writer

How the conflict in Ukraine is impacting your commute to campus.

In Durango, you can stroll through downtown and find plenty of donation cash jars in businesses, window paintings, and street art in support of Ukraine. If these elements don’t serve as a large enough reminder of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, a trip to the gas station might.  The war not only put countless Ukrainian citizens in danger and constant fear but is...

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The Powwow Returns The Powwow Returns

The Powwow Returns

By Tiara Yazzie and Cameron Maroney Indy Staff Writers

PHOTO ESSAY: Two years after a pandemic hiatus, Hozhoni Days is back.

With suitcases in hand and braids in place, people of all ages stood in line at the Whalen Gymnasium on April 1, eager to take in the excitement of The Hozhoni Days PowWow at Fort Lewis College after two years of its absence due to the pandemic. ‘Honoring those who never made it home’ was the theme for the 56th annual powwow at FLC,   in regard to the boarding schools where...

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From half-pipe dream to paradise From half-pipe dream to paradise

From half-pipe dream to paradise

By Julian Zastrocky Indy Staff Reporter

How two students pushed for a portable park and gave a growing community a place to skate.

A skatepark on campus. That was an idea that FLC Students Lleyton Hull and Joey Borer had when they came to Fort Lewis College in the fall of 2021. “It's a cool college,” Hull said. “But why is there not a skatepark when there are so many skaters?” So, Hull and Borer began to work towards building an on-campus skate park. Step one was to organize themselves as...

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Four stars for my four day quarantine Four stars for my four day quarantine

Four stars for my four day quarantine

By Mia McCormick Indy Staff Writer

After testing positive for COVID-19, one reporter tells-all about her stay in FLC's COVID hotel

Isolation room 336 smelled like cleaning products and fresh linens the first time I  entered it. When I hurried out the door on my fourth and final day in the COVID hotel, the air that followed me was thick with the odor of soggy, untouched food and unhinged boredom.  I got my positive COVID-19 test results on Jan. 28. A few hours after I got the dreaded email from the health...

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Thinking outside of the 9 to 5 Thinking outside of the 9 to 5

Thinking outside of the 9 to 5

By Julian Zastrocky Indy Staff Writer

From coffee-making to plant-care to art, here's how some students on campus pay the bills. 

What better way to make a little extra money than a side hustle. Some students at Fort Lewis College sometimes need a little extra money, so they use their interests and skills to make the extra cash they need. But other times that little extra cash can turn into more.  Devyn Valandra is a sophomore at FLC, majoring in entrepreneurship. When he was a senior in high school, he took a...

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