timeline of involvement of native americans in aspen, colorado 1990-2002 & 1968

7/29/2019 Timeline of Involvement of Native Americans in Aspen, Colorado 1990-2002 & 1968.

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Timeline of Involvement of Native Americans in Aspen, Colorado 1990-

2002 & 1968.

Native American involvement with the Roaring Fork Valley has been the

result of the vision and action of individuals who have recognized the

important gifts that the Native people have carried and are carrying for

humanity.

Compiled by Connie Baxter Marlow

Buzz Bainbridge/Aspen Skiing Company

1968- 8th Interski. Buzz, as marketing director of the Aspen Skiing Company invited the Southern Utes

to perform blessings at the ceremonies of the 8 th Interski for the ski instructors from all of the worldwho convened in Aspen that year. Buzz threw a big buffalo barbeque. The Utes performed traditional

dances and the entire event was a great sharing of cultures. Buzz remembers that the Japanese andGerman instructors were enthralled by the Utes. 1968 was Buzzs last season with the Aspen SkiingCompany. He moved to New Mexico where he became the Director of Tourism for the State of New

Mexico. In 1990 he decided that the Indians were not getting the credit they deserved for attracting

tourists to New Mexico and he called the 23 tribes of New Mexico together(something they saidcouldnt be done) and formed the New Mexico Indian Tourism Association, the first of its kind in the

nation. Now many states have Indian Tourism Associations. Buzz is still honored in New Mexico by

the Pueblo leaders as The Godfather. In 1996 Time Magazine voted New Mexico the top tourismspot due to the enchantment of Native dancing. Buzz was inducted into the New Mexico Tourism

Hall of Fame in 1998.

Connie Marlow/Friends of Earth PeopleMission: An organization dedicated to creating forums for accessing ancient wisdom so that

one day all people may walk together in peace and in balance with the Universal Laws that

govern Creation.

1990 Grandmother Kitty, Nakota Elder, does Blessing and Releasing Ceremony at the Red Brick

Elementary School at the invitation of Connie Marlow.

1991 Grandfather Wallace Black Elk, Lakota Elder, does Blessing Ceremony for new Elementary

School at the invitation of Connie Marlow.

1991 Connie Marlow forms Friends of Earth People, an organization dedicated to creating forums forvisionary Native people to share their understanding of the nature of the Universe.

1991-Present Friends of Earth People brings in many Native People for Ceremony, Lectures,

Workshops. For several years before valley contact with the Utes Connie brought Native American

elders to the valley to share their understanding of the nature of the universe: GrandmotherKitty,Nakota; Wallace Black Elk, Lakota; Marilyn Youngbird,Arikara/Hidatsu; Arnold Herrera,

Cochiti; Larry Littlebird, Santo Domingo; Mitchell Silas, Navajo. Under the guidance of Wallace

Black Elk FOEP built a sweat lodge at the Windstar Foundation where most events were held. Connie


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currently has two photography exhibits on the East Coast where she uses the exhibits as platforms for

continuing to create forums for visionary Native American elders to share their ways andunderstanding.

Friends of Earth People Significant Events:

1992-Sweat Lodge and Talking Circle for visionary leaders of Aspen with Wallace Black Elk,Lakota Elder-Windstar

1993-Sweat Lodge with Ute leaders prior to Ute PowWow-Windstar

1993-Public Forum Series on the Subject of Education: Alden Naranjo, Southern Ute ElderKeynote Speaker. Development ofThe Aspen Model, a model of cultural interaction that

integrates native principles in community interaction.

1994, 1995, 1996-Talking Circles/Sweat Lodges/Lectures in honor of Martin Luther Kingsvision of freedom. Wallace Black Elk, Lakota; Kenny Frost, Ute.

1994 Ute Elder, Painter, Dancer Russell Box.Talk at Aspen Art Museum; Talking Circle, Windstar;

Visit with Aspen Elemenary Children; Blessing Ceremony Maroon Creek Club Project

1994-Grandmother Bertha Grove, Ute Elder performs blessing ceremony for the Public/Private

Partnership Proposal between the Aspen Community School, the Aspen School District and the

Roaring Fork School District at Windstar. Sweat lodge, and cleansing ceremony of schools.

1995-Grandmother Bertha Grove, Ute Elder performs Cleansing and Blessing Ceremony for

the Cozy Point Ranch Lands in conjunction with the City of Aspen, owner of the land.

Prayer Robes hang in Aspen City Council Chambers 1995-Present.

1995-Grandmother Bertha Grove, Ute Elder perform Cleansing and Blessing Ceremony of the

Windstar Lands in Old Snowmass, Grassroots TV Station and the Avalanche Mine inRedstone.

Note: Once Connie made contact with the Utes she made it a point to involve the Utes ineverything she did in Aspen, believing that if something of integrity is to come out of a place, it

must be in alignment with the original caretakers of the land there. Hence she involved the

Utes in blessing/blessing ceremonies of the land and in her work with education in the valley.

Pitkin County Commissioners/ Commissioner Bob Child

City of Aspen/ Mayor John Bennett, Mayor Bill Stirling, Mayor Rachel Richards,City

Council/Vice-Mayor Terry Paulson, Mayor Helen Klanderud.

1993 Ute PowWow in Glenwood Springs. A traditional week-long Powwow, as well as extensive

political meetings between Ute representatives and the forest service and Pitkin CountyCommissioners and City of Aspen. This is the beginning of the recent Ute reconnection to the

Roaring Fork Valley. Bob Child, Pitkin County Commissioner represented the County in these

meetings, John Bennett, mayor of Aspen, represented the City of Aspen. There were several days offormal meetings between the three Ute tribes and the area governments. Southern Utes, represented by


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Eddie Box, Ute Mountain Utes, represented by Judy Knight, and the Uintah Utes. There was some

need expressed by the Uintah Utes that was not met. They did not sign the agreement that was arrivedat through the meetings

This was the first time the three bands of Utes had gotten together since 1882. The Uintah band had

trouble financially being able to attend all the meetings.

The City of Aspen in conjunction with Earth Voices Organization in a formal ceremony with Ute

representatives dedicated Ute Park in the name of the Utes with a stone and plaque next to the entranceof Ute Trail. This was not received entirely by the Utes without some rancor. They wanted support of

their water projects that the anglo community was resisting that would bring water to the reservations

that was promised under the treaties.

Taken from notes from conversation with Bob Child winter of 2001 for book by Kathryn Livingston.

Udated in interview with CBM and Bob Child at his home in Oceanside CA 12/3/02.

Bob Child, Pitkin County Commissioner and Kenny Frost, Ute representative begin dialogueconcerning Ute ancestral sites in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Pitkin County Land Use Code Criteria for evaluating development proposals contained guidelines to

be used in making decisions on land use issues that included concern for sites of archeological value.Bob Child felt that this could be interpreted to include Native American Sites.

Kenny Frost took Commissioners and Forest Service on two day exploratory trip to point out possibleUte ancestral grounds. Bill Kight and Sonny LaSalle from the Forest Service agreed to protect those

sites. An agreement was reached between the 3 tribes and the forest service concerning protection of

sites, Southern Utes and Ute Mountain Utes signed agreement with the State of Colorado, Routt

National Forest, Gunnison-Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre National Forest and White River NationalForest. The Uintah tribe wanted to revisit the sites. Did not sign at the time, but was expected to.

City of Aspen/Pitkin County supported and attended the following:

1993-1996 Living Arts Foundations Land Forum/Talking Circle with Utes and other tribes

1995- Healing and Cleansing Ceremony of Cozy Point Ranch Lands with Ute Elder Bertha Grove.

2000- Ute Millenial Celebration with Native Voices Foundation

2002- Native American Olympic Art Exhibit-Pitkin Co. Airport with Native Voices Foundation.

2002-Support of Ute Olympic Torch Bearers.

Note: Bob Child was the Pitkin County representative to the Rural Council that met throughout the

state to assess rural issues. In the early 80s Bob attended a meeting with the Rural Council and theUte Mountain Utes in Durango concerning the water issue. He sat next to and met Ben Nighthorse

Campbell who was running of his first term of office as a state representative. This was the first Indian

Bob had ever met. This began Bobs involvement as a communication facilitator between the Utes and


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Pitkin County. It was a result of a newspaper report on this meeting in Durango that the Bureau of

Reclamation began to recognize the need to communicate with the tribes

Note: Throughout the political processes there was doubt and some anger and resentment on the part

of the Utes, questioning the Anglo sincerity. Nevertheless, relations have improved substantially over

the years through the heartfelt overtures by individuals such as Connie Marlow, County Commissioner

Bob Child, City Councilman Terry Paulson, Mayor John Bennett, Sarah Pletts, Suzy Chaffee, andMayor Helen Klanderud.

Terry and Donna Lipman: Earth Voices: Aspens Celebration for the Indigenous People and the

Environment.

Mary Martin: Celebration of the Native American Indian 1991-_____?

Mary Martin hosted the Celebration of the Native American Indian for several years as fund-raising

events for the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian.

1991 Elk Mountain Lodge Ceremony with Wallace Black Elk, Hopi Dancers, National

Museum of the American Indian/Smithsonian-Rick West.1992-?? Large Gathering of Many tribes ???? Need info from Mary.

Sarah Pletts/Janet Garwood: Living Arts Foundation.

Joint Council Meeting/Land Forums - July 4, 1993-1997

Sarah Pletts, in conjunction with the City of Aspen held annual events for several years on July 4th tojoin together the Utes with the Federal and local government representatives to honor the Iroquois role

in forming the United States. These events featured, held at and sponsored by Aspen Center for

Environmental Studies (ACES) a talking circle in which invited participants to share ideas, thoughts

and experiences. Utes and representatives from many tribes throughout America joined City, Countyand Citizen representatives in extensive dialogue over the years.

Sarah Pletts led a Ute-Lakota-Aspen Protection Ceremony for the 2002 Olympics at Worlds LargestTipi at the Canyons, Park City, in the spirit of Nicholas Black Elk's Vision of Unity of the 4 colors of

humanity with horses coming into the circle from the four directions. Blessing by N. Ute Chief Roland

McCook. Connie Marlow, Mayflower pilgrim descendent, rode the horse in the North, Suzy Chaffee,also a Mayflower Pilgrim descendent, stood in the South and read support letters from Muhammad Ali

and Billy Kidd. Loya Cesspooch, Ute elder and young Ute dancers stood next to Lakota C.J. Bradford

on horseback in the East, and Iroquois James Kleinert also on horseback stood in the West. Lakota _?

___drummed traditional Lakota blessing songs.

Suzy Chaffee/Native Voices Foundation

Olympic racer and World Freestyle Ski Champion Suzy Chaffee co-founded Native Voices

Foundation in 1996 with Ute Unity leader Alden Naranjo in Telluride following 4 weather miracles

that saved Telluride after she and Telski shared the joy of skiing with a Lakota named Rollingbears. In2000, she moved NVF headquarters to Aspen.

NVF's Mission: To create better understanding and joyful unity through sports to help heal MotherEarth for our children. By inviting Native Americans back to their majestic ancestral mountains for


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skiing and honoring celebrations, the wisdom of Native Voices is again being heard clear and strong.

Through creating a bridge between our co-existent but different cultures that have different values andpriorities, we enrich each other, and create mutual respect and appreciation through skiing, cultural

ceremonies, travel, and good times. www.nativevoices.org.

1997- Ute blessing ceremony by Alden Naranjo of Tom and Jody Cardamone and her mother, Joy

Caudill, at Hallam Lake to honor their contributions to preserving Aspen's Natural resources, includingthe Hallam Lake wetlands, organized by Chaffee.

1999 - Welcoming reception at ACES for the Chairman of the Northern Utes, Roland McCook,bilateral descendent of Chipeta of the "Uncompahgre Band" of the now Northern Ute Tribe living in Ft

Duschene, Utah. French Princess Caroline Murat attends and joins NVF Board, which results in her

honoring Native Americans at her prestigious music festival in Gstaad after the Olympics in 2002.2000- Ute Millennial Ski Celebration at Aspen's Gondola Plaza: Welcoming home of the Utes to their

ancestral mountains for skiing and a cultural event, presided by Mayor Rachel Richards, with White

Buffalo, Deer, Fancy and Traditional Dancers, also reflecting on the White Buffalo Prophecy. Hosted

by Chaffee, it honored the first Inhabitants of Aspen with a blessing by Rev. Faril Meistrell to heal thehistory of humanity - every race at one time being abused, exploited or genocide, to start a new

beginning at the dawn of the Millennium. Reception at St Regis and Buffalo dinner at Chaffee's oldSnowmass home.2000- N. Ute and Navajo Dance Celebration and Blessing at the Sundeck of Aspen Mt, then Navajo

blessing ceremony of the Roaring Fork River at the Moreharts, then Navajo Dance performances at the

Snowmass Plaza and Rodeo Grounds.2001- Alden Naranjo blesses the land and wildlife with Aspen leaders at the controversial Burlingame

site then the grounds of Compass Sustainable Settings to smooth the way for their vital projects to

move forward.2001- Celebration at NVF's Jonas Weil's home honoring NVF's Ambassador Cheyenne Ross

Anderson, on becoming the "Fastest American on Skis", second in world. He was photographed with

Chaffee for July Sports Illustrated at Deedee Brinkman's tipi.

2001- NVF organizes Mayan Calendar Millennial Celebration at the St Regis with blessing by Mayandescendent and Native dancing by the choreographers of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002

Olympics, Omaha Al Blackbird and Iroquois Dallin Maybe.

2002-NVF Benefit at the Caribou Club with welcoming of Utes by Mayor Klanderud and some ofAspen's original families...Pfisters.

2002-Blessing of "Native American Olympic Art Exhibit" at Pitkin County Airport with the N. Ute

Dancers to honpor the original inhabitants, "The Blue Sky People," with paintings by Utes Colorowand LaRose. The purpose is to also inspire visitors to want to preserve the Roaring Fork Valley for

their children.

2002- N. Utes win the Ethnic division of the Winterskol Parade. Chaffee, as guest MC, honors

Aspenites (1 in 4 Americans) with Native heritage for their ancestral contributions to humanity. Utesski and board

2002- N. Ute Chief Roland McCook, and local Ute skier James Martinez carry Olympic Torch in

Aspen. "You are now the caretakers of this land," said McCook, at the Presentation of the Torchrunners and local Olympians in Aspen. Utes ski & board

2002-NVF hosts final Olympic Press Conference at SLC honoring tribes for Opening Ceremonies, and

announcing 5 Utah Ski Areas wanting to share skiing with their Tribal youth.2002-NVF hosts Gratitude Ceremony on Closing Ceremony Day in World's Largest Tipi at the

Canyons, Park City, Utah

2002-First International Tribal Ski Exchange: Between 10 yr old King Oyo of Uganda and the N. UteDancers and Elders at Keystone.


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Note: Suzy has established a warm and mutually supportive friendship with the Northern Utes (Uintah)

whose ancestors are the original caretakers of the Roaring Fork Valley. They are very moved to be

welcomed back to their ancestral lands.

Chip Comins/American Spirit Productions

Most of the NVF events have been filmed for a documentary by Aspen's Chip Comins of AmericanSpirit Productions, called "Red Road to the Olympics." And much of it is chronicled in print by Connie

Baxter Marlow

timeline of involvement of native americans in aspen, colorado 1990-2002 & 1968

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