Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Upcoming Event

3/4/25, Healthy Cooking Class, 10:30-1:30pm, Multi-Purpose Facility

3/13/25, Breastfeeding and Parenting Support Class, 12-1pm, Mouache Capote Building downstairs kitchen

3/20/25, National Nutrition Month Food Tasting, 2-4pm, Hall of Warriors

3/26/25, Shining Mountain Fresh Meal Kit pick up, Mouache Capote Building, TBD

3/27/25, Nutrition Classes at SUIMA, TBD

4/3/25, Career Fair education table, 9am-2pm, Sky Ute Casino Resort

4/10/25, Breastfeeding and Parenting Support Class, 12-1pm, Mouache Capote Building downstairs kitchen

4/17/25, General Meeting education table, TBA, Sky Ute Casino Resort

4/18/25, Sip, Chat, Chew education, 11:30-1:30, Multi-Purpose Facility

4/24/25, Nutrition Classes at SUIMA, TBD

4/30/25, Shining Mountain Fresh Meal Kit pick up, Mouache Capote Building, TBD

5/6/25, Healthy Cooking Class: Sugar Substitutes, 10:30-1:30pm, Multi-Purpose Facility

5/8/25, Breastfeeding and Parenting Support Group: Mother’s Day Celebration, 12-1pm, SunUte Community Center

5/28/25, Shining Mountain Fresh Meal Kit pick up, Mouache Capote Building, TBD

6/2/25, Cooking Matters Cooking Class, Mondays in June, 5:30-7:30pm, Southern Ute Education Building kitchen

About

Shining Mountain Health and Wellness is a fully grant funded community and clinic-based program that has a primary focus on chronic disease management and prevention. Chronic diseases that are addressed include but are not limited to; diabetes, prediabetes, and hypertension. The programing offered is dynamic and based on the fluctuating needs of the community. Examples of some methods utilized by program to aid in chronic disease prevention and treatment are nutrition education, cooking classes, foot care education and exams, SunUte membership aid, and meal planning assistance.*

Additionally, Shining Mountain Health and Wellness provides resources and education in both the breastfeeding and breast/cervical cancer fields. The program offers breastfeeding pumps, lactation counseling, and monthly resource classes or mailouts as well as breast/cervical cancer screening health navigation and/or clinical services payment opportunities.*

*Shining Mountain Health and Wellness offers a plethora of opportunities to not only Ute Tribal members, but also Native American and Alaska Natives that live locally and community members of those who live on the Southern Ute reservation. Please call the program to ask about what opportunities are available for you.*

Currently, Shining Mountain Health and Wellness staff are available for in person and telehealth appointments. Appointments can be made for the following services.

Nutrition Education

Platform: Telehealth/in person

Staff: Lisa B. Smith

Contact: 970-563-2344

Lactation Counseling

Platform: Telehealth/mailout/in-person

Staff: Shawmarie Tso

Contact: 970-563-2163

Foot Care Resources

Platform: In person/mailout

Staff: Shawmarie Tso

Contact: 970-563-2163

Sun Ute Community Center Memberships

Platform: Phone or Email

Staff: Heather Sorensen

Contact: 970-563-2349

Shining Mountain Health and Wellness Staff

Lisa B. Smith – Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Lisa has been working as a dietitian in various settings for over 25 years and has been with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe since 2017.  She is currently the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for the Shining Mountain Health and Wellness program under the Tribal Health Department.  Through her work with Shining Mountain, she has been able to pursue her passion of helping people through their personal journey toward improved health.  Knowing that we all face different challenges, Lisa will be a cheerleader, coach, educator, and counselor. She has lived in Ignacio for over 25 years and enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, traveling, dancing, and eating!

Shawmarie Tso – LPN

Shawmarie has worked for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe for 16 years and has been with Shining Mountain Health and Wellness since 2014.  Shaw’s expertise spans from diabetic foot care to Advanced Lactation Counselor.  Shaw’s passion for patient care is evident through her various roles with Shining Mountain and her creativity is a cornerstone to the program’s success.  Shawmarie lives with her husband, son, and daughter. She loves to craft, cook, and walk.  Look for her as she walks her dog in the early morning chill!

Heather Sorensen – MSN, RN

Heather began working for Shining Mountain Health and Wellness in July 2023. She has worked as a public health nurse for 16 years with experience in women’s health, breast and cervical cancer screening, care coordination, chronic disease prevention programming and nutrition. She is passionate about helping others prevent disease and stay healthy. She has lived in Durango for 6 years and enjoys hiking, skiing, travel, and a lazy afternoon with a good book.

Health Education

Join Shining Mountain Health and Wellness and Food Distribution in making Blueberry Blue Cornmeal Pancakes

Services

• Nutrition Education
• Foot Care Education
• Breastfeeding Counseling
• Breastfeeding Classes
• Breast Cancer Screening aid
• Cervical Cancer Screening aid
• SunUte Membership financial aid
• Community Events
• Cooking Classes
• Diabetes Care – lifestyle treatment/prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

TBD…