Indigenous Peoples Day
Indigenous Peoples Day (IPD) is October 14, 2019. The Request for Proposals for community groups putting on IPD events will be released on June 28, 2019. The application deadline will be July 8th, 2019 at 5pm.
2019 RFP Information
The Human Relations Commission is now accepting proposals for 2019 Indigenous Peoples Day events. Funding is available for events that encourage understanding and appreciation of Indigenous Peoples, their traditions, culture and our shared history in these ancestral lands known as the Boulder Valley. Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, July 8.
For more information and an application, choose a Word or PDF version of the RFP:
Indigenous Peoples Day RFP - Word version 
Indigenous Peoples Day RFP - PDF version 
Last Year's Indigenous Peoples Day Events
Indigenous Peoples Day Pow Wow
Oct. 6, 7 & 8: 12 – 6 p.m.
Location: Boulder Peace Garden (Canyon Blvd. between the Municipal Bldg and the Canyon Theater)
Learn about Indigenous culture through traditional dress and crafting techniques and observe and participate in traditional dance and song.
Arapaho Trading Camp
Oct. 6, 7 & 8: 12 – 6 p.m.
Location: Boulder Peace Garden (Canyon Blvd. between the Municipal Bldg and the Canyon Theater)
Indigenous artisans will sell traditional art and jewelry, food and beverage to support their tribes and other Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations in the future.
Welcome the Hinóno'éí (Arapaho) People Home
Sunday, Oct. 7: 1 - 6 p.m.
Location: Boulder High School, 1604 Arapahoe Ave.
Welcome the Arapaho to their homeland as they share their culture, history and current lives through presentations and performances.
Youth Cultural Exchange Experience
Sunday, Oct. 7: 3 - 6 p.m.
Location: Boulder High School – Small Gym, 1604 Arapahoe Ave.
Join us to learn, dance and engage in interactive cultural activities with our Arapaho relatives.
Indigenous Peoples Day Parade
Monday, Oct. 8: 8 - 11 a.m.
Location: 15th and Pearl to the Boulder Peace Garden (Canyon Blvd. between the Municipal Bldg and the Canyon Theater)
The parade begins at 15th and Pearl St. and ends at the Peace Garden. This event will be a profound moment of healing and celebration.
Indigenous Peoples Day Open House with the Native American Rights Fund
Monday, Oct. 8: 12 - 4 p.m.
Location: NARF Offices, 1506 Broadway
Join the Native American Rights Fund and friends as we provide important dialogue on current issues of importance to Indigenous communities.
Indigenize Your Eyes Exhibit and Presentation
Monday, Oct. 8: 3 - 4 p.m.
Location: Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway
Hear from local American Indian youth artists and view their work. This photo project raises awareness of the history and current status of American Indians in Boulder. This exhibit will also be on display at the Boulder Public Library – Main Library (1001 Arapahoe Ave.) from Oct. 1 - 31. For more information visit: indigenizeyoureyes.org
Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration 2016 from City of Boulder on Vimeo .
Indigenous Peoples Day
Indigenous Peoples Day is part of a national effort to recognize and honor the existence, culture and contributions of the original inhabitants of North America on the day that has for the past 82 years been observed as Columbus Day.
Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations have been adopted by cities and counties across the United States: Albuquerque, NM; Alpina, MI; Anadarko, OK; Berkeley, CA; Bexar County, TX; Lawrence, KS; Los Angeles, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Olympia, WA; Portland, OR; St. Paul, MN; Santa Cruz, CA; and Seattle, WA.
Locally, the City of Denver passed a one-year proclamation in 2015 replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day; this designation was made permanent the following year.
In a 2016 report prepared by the Governor of Colorado’s Commission to Study American Indian Representation in Public Schools, commission Chair Clement Frost of the Southern Ute Tribe called for the state to “recognize the role of American Indians in Colorado’s history and to ensure that this history is taught comprehensively and accurately.” 1 At both a national and regional level, it is important to realign the public’s knowledge toward a more whole, realistic historical perspective and provide opportunities to share the stories, culture and history of the Indigenous Peoples of North America.
Indigenous Peoples Day in Boulder
A community-initiated project with the assistance of Mary Young, the City of Boulder Mayor pro tem, to adopt Indigenous Peoples Day took place throughout 2016. The committee expressed a high-level of commitment to two objectives in the resolution process: First is a focus on the Boulder area and its significance to Native American culture. Second is an accurate history of Native interaction with the Europeans who arrived largely in the 19th century. In response to the committee’s proposal, a resolution was passed by City Council on Aug. 2, 2016 that officially recognizes Indigenous Peoples Day.
Indigenous Peoples of North America
The earliest known human inhabitants of Boulder, the Clovis people, left artifacts that date back to approximately 11,000 BCE. Archaeologists believe that they, along with their camels and other animals, congregated at a site along Gregory Creek. Yes, camels roamed around Boulder Valley at that time! In subsequent years, many Paleo-Indian cultures inhabited areas of present-day Colorado including the Anasazi. These ancestral Puebloans are known for their rich culture of architecture: cliff dwellings and pit houses; crafting: basket-making, pendants and bracelets; rock art; agriculture and trade.
Among contemporary tribes, the Ute migrated to Colorado from Utah sometime prior to the 1600s to hunt large herds of buffalo. They were followed by the Comanche in the 1700s and later by the Arapaho and Cheyenne along with several other indigenous groups. The following is a list of Indigenous Peoples of North America:
| Ababco | Aleut | Arikara (Arikaree, Ree) |
| Abenaki/Abnakii | Algonquian Family | Arivaipa |
| Aberginian | Algonquin | Arkokisa |
| Abittibi | Allakaweah | Armouchiquois |
| Abenaki (or Abnaki) | Alliklik | Arosaguntacook |
| Absaroka/Apsaroke | Alsea/Alsi | Ascahcutoner |
| Absentee | Amacano | Assateague |
| Accohanoc | Amahami | Assegun |
| Accominta/Agamenticus | Amaseconti | Assiniboine (Stoney) |
| Achiligonan | Amikwa | Assuti |
| Achomawi | Anadarko | Atakapa |
| Acolapissa | Ancient Puebloans/Anasazi | Atanumlema |
| Acquintanacsnak | Anishinaabe | Atchatchakangouen |
| Acuera | Ani-Stohini/Unami | Atfaiati |
| Adai | Aondironon | Athapascan Family |
| Adirondack | Apache | Atikamek |
| Adshusheer | Apalachee | Atquanachuke |
| Agua Caliente | Apalachicola | Atsina |
| Agawam | Appomattoc | Atsugewi |
| Ahantchuyuk | Aquackanonk | Aucocisco |
| Ais/Ays | Aranama | Avavares |
| Akonapi | Arapaho | Avoyel |
| Alabama/Alibamu | Arendahronon | Awani/Awanichi |
| Alchedoma | Awatobi | |
| Bahacecha | Bellabella | Biloxi |
| Bankalachi | Beothuk | Blackfoot/Siksika |
| Bannock | Bersiamite | Blewmouths |
| Basawunena | Bidai | Bocootawwonauke |
| Bayougoula | Bigiopa | Brotherton |
| Bear River | Big Swamp Indians | Buena Vista |
| Caddo | Chehalis | Chumash |
| Cahokia | Chelamela | Clackama |
| Cahuilla | Chelan | Clallam |
| Cajuenche | Chemehuevi | Clatskanie |
| Calapooya | Chepenafa | Clatsop |
| Callam | Cheraw | Clowwewalla |
| Calusa | Cherokee | Coahuiltecan |
| Canarsee | Chesapeake | Coaque |
| Caparaz | Chetco | Cochimi |
| Cape Fear Indians | Cheyenne | Cochiti |
| Capinans | Chiaha | Cocopa |
| Catawba | Chickahominy | Colville |
| Cathlacomatup | Chickamauga | Comanche |
| Cathlacumup | Chickasaw | Conestoga |
| Cathlakaheckit | Chilliwack | Congaree |
| Cathlamet | Chilluckittequaw | Conoy |
| Cathlanahquiah | Chilula | Coos |
| Cathlapotle | Chimakuan | Copalis |
| Cathlathlalas | Chimakum | Coree |
| Caughnawaga | Chimariko | Costanoan |
| Cayuga | Chine | Coushatta (Koasati) |
| Cayuse | Chinook | Cowichan |
| Chactoo | Chippewa Chiricahua Apache | Cowlitz |
| Chakankni | Chitimacha | Cree |
| Chakchiuma | Chiricahua | Creek |
| Chatot | Choctaw | Croatan |
| Chaui | Choula | Crow |
| Chaushila | Chowanoc | Cuñeil |
| Chawasha | Cupeño | |
| Dakota | Delaware | Dotame |
| Dakubetede | Diegueño | Doustioni |
| Deadose | Diné - See Navajo | Dwamish |
| Eyak | Eskimo - See Inuit | Etchareottine |
| Eno | Esselen | Etheneldeli |
| Erie | Etchaottine | Eyeish |
| Fernandeño | Five Civilized Tribes | Fremont |
| Flathead - See Salish | Fox | Fresh Water |
| Gabrieleno - See Tongva | Gros Ventre | Guale |
| Grigras | Guacata | Guasas |
| Haida | Hidatsa | Houma |
| Hainai | Hainai | Housatonic |
| Halchidhoma | Hitchiti | Huchnom |
| Halyikwamai | Ho-Chunk | Hualupai |
| Hanis | Honniasontkeronon | Humptulips |
| Hathawekela | Hoh | Hupa |
| Hatteras | Hohokam | Huron |
| Havasupai | Hopi | |
| Ibitoupa | Innu | Iowa/Ioway |
| Icafui | Inuit | Iroquois |
| Illinois/Illini | Inupiat | Ishak (see |
| Isleta del Sur | ||
| Jamez | Jeags | Juaneño |
| Kadohadacho | Kawchodinne | Konomihu |
| Kahnawake | Kawia | Kootenai/Kutenai |
| Kalapooian | Keyauwee | Koroa |
| Kalispel | Kichai | Koso |
| Kamia | Kickapoo | Kosotshe |
| Kanza/Kaw | Kiowa | Koyeti |
| Karankawa | Kitanemuk | Kutchin |
| Karok | Kitksan | Kutenai |
| Kaska | Kitsai | Kuitsh |
| Kaskaskia | Klallam | Kusan |
| Kaskinampo | Klamath | Ktunaxa |
| Kato | Klickitat | Kutchin |
| Keresan Family | Koasati | Kwaiailk |
| Kawaiisu | Kohuana | Kwakiutl |
| Kwalhioqua | ||
| Lakmiut | Lillooet | Luiseno |
| Lakota | Lochapoka | Lumbees |
| Lassik | Lohim | Lummi |
| Latgawa | Loucheux | Lutuamian |
| Lenape - See Delaware | Luckeamute | |
| Macapiras | Mattole | Mogollon |
| Machapunga | Meherrin | Mohawk |
| Mahican | Meits | Mohegan |
| Maidu | Menominee | Mojave |
| Makah | Mescalero Apache | Molala |
| Maliseets | Meskwaki | Monacan |
| Mandan | Methow | Mono |
| Manhattan | Metoac | Mono-Paviotso |
| Manahoac | Miami | Montagnais |
| Manso | Mical | Montauk |
| Marameg | Michigamea | Moravians |
| Maricopa | Michilimackinac | Moratoc |
| Mariposan | Micmac | Mosepolea |
| Martha's Vineyard | Mikasuki | Muckleshoot |
| Mascouten | Miluk | Mucogo |
| Maskegon | Mishikhwutmetunne | Mugulasha |
| Massachusett | Missouri | Muklasa |
| Mashpee | Miwok | Multnomah |
| Matchoctic | Mobile | Munsee |
| Matinecoc | Mocogo | Muscogean Family |
| Mattabesic | Moctobi | |
| Modoc | ||
| Nabedache | Natchitoches | Niantic |
| Nacisi | Nauset | Nippissing |
| Nacogdoche | Navajo | Nipmuc |
| Nakota | Neusiok | Nisqualli |
| Naltunnetunne | Neutrals | Nongatl |
| Nanatsoho | Neketemeuk | Nooksak |
| Nanticoke | Nemalquinner | Nootka |
| Napissa | Nespelem | Noquet |
| Napochi | Nez Percé | Nottoway |
| Narragansett | New York | Ntlakyapamuk |
| Natchez | ||
| Occaneechi | Onatheaqua | Opelousa |
| Oconee | Oneida | Osage |
| Ofo | Oneota | Osoche |
| Ojibwe/Ojibway | Onondaga | Otoe |
| Okanagon | Ononchataronon | Ottawa |
| Okelousa | Ontonagon | Ouachita |
| Omaha | Ozette | |
| Onathaqua | ||
| Paiute | Pennacook | Plains Indians |
| Pallachacola | Penobscot | Pocomoke |
| Palouse/Palus | Pensacola | Pocomtuc |
| Panamint | Peoria | Pohoy, Pooy, Posoy |
| Papago | Pepikokia | Pomo |
| Pascagoula | Pequawket | Ponca |
| Passamaquoddy | Pequot | Potano |
| Patiti | Piegan | Poosepatuck |
| Patwin | Pima | Potawatomi |
| Pawnee | Pinal Coyotero | Powhatan |
| Pawokti | Piankashaw | Pshwanwapam |
| Pecos | Piro Pueblo | Pueblo |
| Pedee | Pit River | Puyllup |
| Puntatsh | ||
| Quahatika | Quinaielt | Quinault |
| Quapaw | Quileute | Quinipissa |
| Queets | ||
| Rappahannock | Ree - See Arikara | Rouge River |
| Sac | Seminole | |
| Sac and Fox | Seneca | |
| Saconnet | Senijextee | |
| Sahehwamish | Serrano | |
| Salinan Family | Sewee | |
| Salish | Shakori | |
| Saluda | Shasta | |
| Samish | Shawnee | |
| Sanpoil | Shoshone | |
| Santee | Shinnecock | |
| Santiam | Shuswap | |
| Sappony | Siletz | |
| Sarsi | Siksika | |
| Satsop | ||
| Saturiba | Tulalip | |
| Saturiwa | Tunica | |
| Sauk - See Sac | Tunxis | |
| Sawokli | Tuscarora | |
| Seechelt | Tuskegee | |
| Sekani | Tutchonekutchin | |
| Semiahmoo | Tutelo | |
| Tututni | ||
| Twana | ||
| Tyigh | ||
| Ucita | Unalachtigo | Ute |
| Umatilla | Unami | Utina |
| Umpqua | ||
| Wabanaki | Washoe | Wichita |
| Waccamaw | Wateree | Winnebago |
| Waco | Watlala | Wintu |
| Wailaki | Wauyukma | Wintun |
| Walapai - See Hualupai | Waxhaw | Winyaw |
| Walla Walla | Wenrohronon | Wippanap |
| Wampanoag | Wea | Wishram |
| Wanapan | Weanoc | Wiyot/Wiyat |
| Wappinger | Weapemeoc | Woccon |
| Wappo | Wenatchee - See Yakama | Wyandot |
| Wasco | Whilkut | Wynoochee |
| Washa | ||
| Yahi | Yaquina | Yuchi |
| Yahooskin/Yahuskin | Yatasi | Yufera |
| Yakama | Yavapai | Yui |
| Yakonan Family | Yazoo | Yuki |
| Yamasee | Yodok | Yuma |
| Yamel | Yojuane | Yuman Family |
| Yampa | Yokut Family | Yurok |
| Yana | Yonkalla | Yustaga |
| Yankton - See Nakota | Yscanis | |
| Zuni |