The Uintah Ute football team is ending the season with an event that will also bring attention to an important cause. Tonight, members of the Uintah Utes will enter Coach Belcher Stadium for a special Friday Night Lights event, wearing special masks to bring attention to the ‘Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’ campaign. Uintah School District issued a press release explaining that this campaign is personal for two Uintah players and their families. Cebron Mountain Lion and Nate Serawop learned in August that their aunt, Akosita “Sita” Kaufusi, had been found dead near the Great Saltair in Salt Lake County. Her death is being investigated as a homicide. “This loss broke the hearts of all their family members and the friends of Sita,” said Cebron’s mom, Mikki Su Mountain Lion, who added that the family wants to “bring awareness of these Stolen Sisters to Uintah High School, to honor the women who have lost their lives throughout the decades.” Nate’s mom, Fololina Tauaalo, contacted Uintah High football coach Justin DeCol and asked if it would be possible for the team to wear masks with an MMIW design. She said her family is “overwhelmed with gratitude” for DeCol and Uintah High administrators, who approved the request. “It’s a big thing for our family,” Tauaalo said. “We never expected to lose a close relative like this.” American Indian women are murdered at 10 times the national average. “Many native families are personally affected by these tragedies,” she said. “Many have at least one relative or friend that became a Stolen Sister.” For DeCol, the request by Nate’s mom was an easy one to grant. “The chance to support the MMIW campaign is a unique opportunity for our team,” the first-year head coach said. “Both Nate and Cebron are very dear to their teammates and to our coaching staff.” DeCol noted that the first of the football program’s four core values is respect for women, which perfectly complements the MMIW campaign. Gates will open at 5pm tonight at Coach Belcher Stadium. The community is invited to come celebrate the Uintah High football seniors to close out the 2020 season. For more information on the MMIW campaign, visit www.mmiwusa.org. 
