Cottonwood Convergence
Paonia, Colorado
2026-11-13
Cottonwood Convergence honors the Ute people as the original stewards of this land. We are committed to following Ute leadership and building reparative relationships.
Cottonwood Convergence is a 3-day cultural festival in the verdant North Fork Valley, bringing together residents of the valley, members of the Ute nations whose ancestors were displaced from it, and immigrant communities of our region. We’re creating intentional space to center indigenous, immigrant, and community voices and perspectives, weaving their stories and crafts more fully into the valley’s cultural fabric. Together, we’ll celebrate our diversity, learn from one another, and begin to reimagine our collective future.
Since the sacred Ute Council Tree in Delta was cut down, The Learning Council has been engaged in repairing and deepening the ties between the Delta County and the Ute nations. Cottonwood Convergence is designed to celebrate the hard work and struggle that our many communities have put in to work and build together, and to mark the start of a new chapter in North Fork Valley/Ute Mountain Ute collaboration.
The Convergence will honor Ute educators, artists, musicians, and crafters who will lead presentations, share their work, and participate alongside workshops from the various cultures represented. Events will include ecological justice seed swaps, lessons, and roundtables; art jams and public installations; music, dance, feasts, and storytelling; and somatic healing. Food will be local, organic, and cooked fresh by The Learning Council.
What we’re looking for:
Speakers, especially Ute, to present on topics under the purview of culture, environment, and health
Workshops in your area of expertise
Artists, storytellers, and performers
Partners and sponsors to collaborate or support the event
Volunteers to help us with event production (kitchen support, event set-up, clean-up, etc)
Community organizations who want to collaborate on programming
If you’re drawn to regenerative culture, Ute leadership, ecological healing, or strengthening the bonds between disparate local communities, come join us for the first-ever Cottonwood Convergence.
Contact alicia@thelearningcouncil.org and emily@thelearningcouncil.org if you’d like to sponsor, collaborate, volunteer, participate or have any questions.
Please let us know how you’d like to contribute (speaker, workshop facilitator, performance, partnership, sponsorship) and what you need from us to participate fully.
Together, we remember.
Together, we weave what’s possible.
With gratitude,
Cottonwood Convergence Steering Committee
Alicia, Emily, Joe Bob, Anastacia, Angeles, Michael, Daniel, Asa, Lesandre, Sophie, Rylee
The Learning Council