Contestants upset with treatment at Ceremonial rodeo

By Quentin Jodie
For The Independent

RED ROCK PARK — What was anticipated to be a celebratory event for the 85th annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Rodeo ended on a sour note.

Ruth Bitsui and Gloria Grant, a rodeo committee member for Ceremonial, proposed a petition that cites the mistreatment and abuse of Indian rodeo contestants at this year's event.

The petition was signed by more than 400 individuals consisting of contestants, family members and spectators including a handful of foreign visitors.

According to the petition, the contestants were not allowed to utilize the facility near the rodeo grounds fully and were placed in a sandy area near the RV campground with no access to water and no available port-a-potties.

"There were no accommodation for the contestants and their families in the 'designated parking' area," Grant claimed. "There was no water available for their horses (in the designated area) and no restrooms for them to use. Some of the contestants brought with them their families that are elderly and handicapped and they had to walk through the sand to reach the rodeo arena. They were not allowed to be dropped off near the arena."

"This is a city park that is paid for by the tax payers, including the Navajo people," she added. "In the other events (Lions Club, Wild Thing n' Barrels and Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Finals), they had access inside the park. And the added money for the contestants has been diminishing over years as well and we're beginning to lose them."

Gallup Ceremonial director Louis Bonaguidi said the parking arrangement was due to safety concerns. He also stated that the contestants had water for their horses readily available inside the park near the stalls.

"It was a safety issue because we have to have the emergency services go through the area in case we have to send someone into an emergency facility," he said. "And I think that they (contestants) knew where the water (faucets) were inside the park and that shouldn't be a big deal."

As far as the declining prize money goes, Bonaguidi said that the $17,500 price tag for the stock contractor and the $10,000 added purse puts a hole in their pockets, but he questions what the associations puts into the rodeo.

"The AIRCA came to us for the rodeo," he explained. "But what amenities did they provide. I think we may be better off changing this into an open Indian rodeo."

In addition, the petition also listed the unprofessional behavior of the parking attendants, which was staffed by Rehoboth volunteers.

In Friday's performance, Sheryl Yazzie of Coyote Canyon, N.M. voiced her concerns about an incident that involved one of the parking attendants while she and her husband, Donovan, had their trailer in tow.

"She told us that we had to pay $5 for parking and we told her that we were going to turn around," she said. "(But), I think she didn't hear us quite well because of our (diesel) truck was loud. And she jumped on our vehicle, and I asked her 'what are you doing? Get off our truck. All we're doing is turning around.' "

Attempts were made to obtain comments from parking supervisor Nicky Hawthorne about the incident, but she directed all comments to Bonaguidi.

And Bonaguidi said that Rehoboth volunteers have a definite investment interest since they share half of parking proceeds, and if they don't collect, they lose money.

"They are volunteering their time and Nicky has to be tough with them because the cowboys aren't easy to get along with because they have to be tough (it's their nature to be tough)," he said. "If they don't collect their money they are losing out too.This event is not a free-for-all and she was dragged 15 feet because her elbow got caught inside their truck."

This type of attitude is the tip of the iceberg Grant proclaimed, and she said lately the Ceremonial has it's whole focus misplaced.

"I think it's time for extreme change for the executive board for condoning this type of treatment," Grant said. "We are customers and they treat us like if we were doing something wrong and honestly it demoralizes the contestants so they are not happy about it."

But, Bonaguidi said that this weekend's problem was stirred by Grant's action that almost caused a riot by the contestants.

"When she made the announcement she incited the contestants," he said. "And because of it (the angry contestants), we were not going to put with it."