Community event to focus on Arapaho, Cheyenne and Niwot relationships

Nearly a year ago, Fred Mosqueda spoke to a standing-room-only audience at Niwot Hall and shared his Southern Arapaho culture with the community. As Niwot commemorates its 150th anniversary this month, Mosqueda will return for a special event to reflect on the past and explore how the town can foster lasting relationships with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

The upcoming community event, “Building Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Niwot Relationships," will occur on Monday, March 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Niwot Hall, 195 Second Avenue in Niwot. Mosqueda will be joined by Chester Whiteman, who will share his Southern Cheyenne perspectives.

The Niwot Cultural Arts Association, which is organizing the event with support from other Niwot organizations, encourages community members to register for a program ticket at bit.ly/niwot-relationships. People are registering for the event, and available seating is becoming increasingly limited. A donation is requested to secure a ticket.

The March 17 community discussion with Mosqueda and Whiteman will focus on:

• Welcoming their histories and cultures into Niwot’s continuing community history.

• Exploring how the Niwot community can build a meaningful relationship with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes over the next 150 years.

• Honoring Hinono’ei neecee Nowoo3 (Southern Arapaho Chief Niwot

/ Left Hand) – Niwot’s namesake – who sought mutual understanding and respect.

“One of the most important things is for people to get to know is who Nowoo3 is, who his people were,” said Mosqueda. “Once they get to know who he was, then they will begin to know who the Arapaho People were and who we are today.”

Program Panelists

Mosqueda and Whiteman represent the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in formal consultations with governments across the West. Recently, they helped to rename Mount Evans, which is now known as Mount Blue Sky and consulted with History Colorado to help it develop its Sand Creek Massacre exhibit. They also consult with federal, state and local governments, including the City of Boulder and Boulder County.

Tom Myer, a Gunbarrel resident who helped organize Mosqueda’s presentation last year, will moderate the conversation on March 17. Phillip Yates, a Niwot Cultural Arts Association board member who has collaborated with Mosqueda and Whiteman as part of the City of Boulder’s work to build relationships with Tribal Nation, will join the discussion.

Accurate Histories of The Past

Both Whiteman and Mosqueda said the would respectfully challenge Niwot to learn the historical events that led to the removal of Chief Nowoo3 (Niwot / Left Hand), the Arapaho People, and the Cheyenne People from Colorado – events that helped to set the stage for Niwot’s founding in March 1875.

As Sand Creek Massacre descendants, they also urged Niwot to learn about the historical legacy that connects it to the Sand Creek Massacre, the deadliest day in Colorado history. The Third Colorado Cavalry regiment, which participated in the Sand Creek Massacre, included Company D – a unit made up of volunteers from Boulder County and the Left Hand Valley. Among them was P.M. Hinman, who later helped found Niwot in March 1875, according to an 1880 history of the Boulder Valley and military records.

“Move Forward, Hand in Hand”

Whiteman said that building a relationship with Tribal Nations is based on establishing mutual respect.

“I was always told to get respect, you have to give it,” said Whiteman. “That’s what I want to tell the community. You respect Native people, we will respect you. We need to make a move forward, and we need to heal. There's still a lot of open wounds out there, so we need to show respect to one another and move forward, hand in hand.”