Leading Locally
This spring, members of the TWP team had the honor of attending an annual blessing for the local bison herd of Soapstone Prairie. Led by elders and spiritual leaders from various Tribes, the blessing was part of honoring land, reaffirming culture, and recognizing the crucial role of bison in both.
Bison at Soapstone prairie are part of the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd, created through collaboration between the City of Fort Collins, CSU, TWP, and other local organizations to provide healthy bison to Tribes throughout the United States. Bison hold deep cultural significance to many Tribes and also play a key ecological role in the landscapes we call home.
We’re proud to be a small part of the growing movement to restore their presence – a movement that’s gaining traction.
Resulting from efforts of the American Indian Affairs Committee and other groups, bison were recently reclassified as wildlife in the state of Colorado, providing important protections and facilitating their expansion to more diverse areas.And bison restoration is just one of the many ways Native communities in Northern Colorado are coming together, celebrating vibrant cultures, and reaffirming traditional ways.
The Northern Colorado Intertribal Powwow Association held their 31st Annual Powwow in Fort Collins this year, celebrating the rich diversity of Tribes and strong cultural heritage in the area.
In association with the City of Fort Collins, local community members also recently developed the First People’s Community Center, a Native-led nonprofit that will host cultural gatherings and serve as a hub for Native communities.
We’d also like to highlight the Indigenous Science Technology Arts Resilience (ISTAR) program, which has connected Indigenous youth to summer camps, community-building, and mentorship in Fort Collins (and beyond) since 2020.
TWP has expanded to collaborate with Indigenous groups in more than 5 countries — but we remain amazed by the incredible work happening close to home.
