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Indigenous People of Colorado

Jocelin Carranza

Mercedes Blea-Davis

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Native American, American Indian, & Indigenous People

“Native American” became the preferred “politically correct” terminology in the 1970s. This term emphasizes that hundreds of individual tribes inhabited the land now known as the United States of America before anyone else. In other words, they’re native to this land. many Indigenous people object to this term because it’s a name assigned by white oppressors. It also categorizes them as Americans, a name they didn’t choose.
“American Indian” and “Native American” both refer to the Indigenous peoples of America.
The best term to use in a given situation usually comes down to preference — not your personal preference, but the preference of the person you’re speaking with.

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American Indian People in Colorado & Education

On October 5, 2015, Governor Hickenlooper issued an Executive Order establishing the Commission to Study American Indian Representation in Public Schools, with the goal to explore the use of potentially harmful mascots and depictions.

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Land Acknowledgement

What is the purpose of a land Acknowledgement?

For non-Indigenous communities, land acknowledgment is a powerful way of showing respect and honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the land on which we work and live. Acknowledgment is a simple way of resisting the erasure of Indigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth.”

What To Know About Land Acknowledgment, And Why It's Deeper Than Just A Statement
How to write a meaningful Land Acknowledgement
Traditional Territory, Language and Treaties Map

Land acknowledgements are an honest and historically accurate way to recognize the traditional First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit territories of a place. They can be presented verbally or visually: think signage, short theatre presentations or simple spoken-word greetings.

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The Original Coloradans

The Original Coloradans	The Anasazi	The Cheyenne Nation	The Pueblo Tribes	The Shoshone Tribes
The Ute Nation: Ute Wisdom, Language and Creation Story Larry Cesspooch	The Comanche Tribe	The Kiowa Tribe	The Navajo Tribe: 'We the People' - the three most misunderstood words in US history-Mark Charles	The Apache Nation: Inside an Apache Rite of Passage Into Womanhood
The Arapo Nation: The Hinono’ei: The Arapaho People - Northern & Southern - History, Culture & Affiliations	Life Is A Walking Native American Wisdom	"What does it mean to be a Native American today?"	The Shoshone Tribes: The land of the brave	The Ute Nation: Origin of the Bear Dance
The Comanche Tribe: The Comanche and the Horse-Native America-Sacred Stories	The Kiowa Tribe: Kiowa Language Lessons from our Elders Bernadine Rhoades	The Navajo Tribe	Native American History in Colorado	Indigenous In Plain Sight-Gregg Deal

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Children's Literature

We Are Water Protectors By Carole Lindstrom And Illustrated By Michaela Goade
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga By Traci Sorell And Illustrated By Franne Lessac
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story By Kevin Noble Millard And Juana Martinez-neil
I Am Not A Number By Dr. Jenny Kay Dupuis, Kathy Kaser, And Gillian Newland
Hiawatha And The Peacemaker By Robbie Robertson And David Shannon
Sweetest Kulu By Celina Kalluk And Illustrated By Alexandria Neonakis
When We Were Alone By David A. Robertson And Julie Flett
Birdsong By Julie Flett
Caribou Song (Songs Of The North Wind) By Thompson Highway And John Rombough
A Is For Aboriginal (First Nations Reader) By Joseph Maclean And Brendan Heard
The Sharing Circle: Stories About First Nations Culture By Theresa Muese And Arthur Stephens