Metropolitan State University of Denver resides on the ancestral lands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute people, all of whom still are in an ongoing relationship with this land. One way to combat the erasure of Indigenous peoples is by recognizing the history that brought settlers, whether voluntary or enslaved, to occupy this land.
The history of the Auraria Campus
On what is now the Auraria Campus, that history includes the Colorado Gold Rush of 1858-59, where settlements such as Auraria, Denver and other land grabs for gold mining devastated the land and interrupted Ute and Cheyenne ways of living. Over the the next 20 years and the next rushes to take silver from the ground, the Cheyenne and Ute were displaced from this area, their homeland.
“By knowing this history, present-day Coloradans can better understand their place within it and seek to be in the right relationship with the people who were here before and with the land,” said Deserea Richards, program coordinator of Native Indigenous Student Support.
Honoring Native and Indigenous Heritage Month
Native Indigenous Heritage Month celebrates Native and Indigenous people, traditions, cultures and contributions. It is an opportunity to educate the Auraria Campus about Native Indigenous tribes, the Native Indigenous history within Colorado and the issues that are important to Native Indigenous communities.
“It is important to understand that Native Indigenous communities still exist, and with your support, their voices can be centered and heard,” said Naomi Jaquez, president of the Native Indigenous Student Alliance. “Join us to dispel preconceived notions of indigeneity, to better understand Indigenous intersectional identities and to learn more about our achievements and affirming our identity.”
All Roadrunners and community members are invited to attend upcoming Native and Indigenous Heritage Month events:
- Native Indigenous Heritage Month Kick-Off
- Walking Into Fall: The Truth About Thankstaking with Guest Speaker Donna Chrisjohn
- Triple F Screening Series: “Prey”
- Native Indigenous History With Former Colorado State Rep. Joe Salazar
- Meet and Greet With Native Indigenous Program Coordinator Deserea Richards
Native and Indigenous Heritage Month events are hosted by the Native Indigenous Student Alliance in partnership with the Center for Equity and Student Achievement, the Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion, the Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy, Journey Through Our Heritage and the University of Colorado Denver Center for Identity and Inclusion.
For more MSU Denver Native and Indigenous Heritage Month events, visit the CMEI website.