Indigenous Connections
The Center of the American West (CAW), the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies (CNAIS), Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), and representatives from the Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Colorado, the Ute Indian Tribe of Uintah and Ouray in Utah, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in Colorado, are carrying out a project aimed at promoting better representation of tribal nations at the National Parks.
South Entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. (Credit: Don Becker, USGS. Public domain.)
In the project’s first phase (2016-2018), we facilitated two workshops with tribal representatives, park officials, and Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty and students. From these meetings, partners identified next steps for the project, and NPS officials and tribal representatives requested that CAW and CNAIS continue to orchestrate this project. In the project’s second phase (2018-2021), we collaboratively gathered and assessed existing research, tribal resources, and other materials for summary documents on each tribe's history and connections to the park region. In the project's current phase, we are using the summary documents to develop new interpretive exhibits and programs at the park. These activities will guide Rocky Mountain National Park staff as they share information about tribal nations with the 4.5 million annual visitors at the park. Further, the RMNP has secured additional resources and support to build out this project, including resources from the National Parks Foundation.
Panel discussion at the 2023 American Association of Geographers, April 2023. (From left to right: Brooke Neely, Natasha Myhal, Ashlyn Barnett, Rising Buffalo Maybee, and Kim Swift)
New VisitorÌýCenter exhibit panel on Native Peoples at Rocky Mountain National Park, 2023.
Visit to Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma, September 2019. (From left to right: Brooke Neely, Kathy Brazelton, Natasha Myhal, Kelly Dick, and Max Bear)
Visit to Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park, October 2018. (From left to right: Kathy Brazelton, Nichol Shurack, Kelly Dick, and Terry Knight, Sr.)
Resources Related to the Project
To learn more, check out this "Exploring Estes Park" podcast episode on Indigenous Connections:Ìý
District Supervisory Park Ranger J. RisingBuffalo Maybee on his deep connection to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park:Ìý