Babylon Fire forces cancellation of Bears Ears Summer Gathering
WINDOW ROCK
Utah Diné Bikéyah has canceled its annual summer gathering at Bears Ears because of the Babylon Fire burning on Blue Mountain in southeastern Utah.
The organization’s board voted to cancel the gathering, which had been scheduled to take place within the next two weeks, because of the wildfire, smoke and conditions in the area. Organizers instead plan to meet in August to arrange a one-day fall gathering after Labor Day, likely in September.
“We, in a duly called meeting––we just cancel next two weeks for the summer gathering and we’re going to regroup in August,” said Davis Filfred, the vice chair of Utah Diné Bikéyah. “We want to still do a one day gathering in September when fall comes here.”
The theme for this year’s gathering was “We’re still dancing,” which Filfred said remains meaningful despite the cancellation.
To read the full article, please see the July 16, 2026, edition of the Navajo Times.
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