November Program: Understanding Native History in the Colorado Front Range

Monday, November 16, 2026 Doors Open at 6:30 pm Enjoy complimentary refreshments and browse our partner tables. Program 7:00-8:30 pm Southridge Recreation Center 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch $5 Donation Suggested at Door for non-HRHS members Consider applying the Donation to Membership! Click HERE for more info. Registration coming soon National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November to honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American and Alaska Native communities across the United States. The observance provides an opportunity to celebrate traditions, languages, and stories while raising awareness about the challenges Native people have faced historically and continue to face today. This presentation provides a brief overview of the rich and enduring history of Native American peoples in the Colorado Front Range. It highlights the Indigenous nations who have lived in and traveled through the region for thousands of years, including the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples, and explores their cultural traditions, relationships with the land, and the lasting impacts of colonization and westward expansion. The presentation also emphasizes the importance of recognizing Native history as an ongoing story that continues to shape Colorado today. About our Presenter: Christie Wildcat, Assistant Curator of the Native Collection at History Colorado Center Screenshot Christie J. Wildcat is a Northern Arapaho scholar, advocate, and community leader from the Wind River Reservation. Currently, she works as Assistant Curator of the Native Collection at History Colorado Center. With a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Political Science, and Native American & Indigenous Studies. She holds a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples’ Law from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies from the University of Wyoming. Christie is currently pursuing her PhD in Anthropology and Social Change, with research focused on Indigenous sovereignty, community wellness, and justice. Christie serves as the Tribal Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) for the Northern Arapaho Tribe, where she works with families, tribal leadership, and state and federal partners to advance prevention, policy, and accountability efforts. She is also a member of the Wyoming Women’s Foundation Advisory Board and the Wyoming State Preservation Board, where she contributes her expertise in Indigenous history, cultural preservation, and community-centered policy. In addition to her professional and academic work, Christie is a woman rough stock rider and a skater with the Naughty Pines Roller Derby. She brings the same discipline, resilience, and leadership from the arena and the track to her advocacy and scholarship PROGRAM SPONSOR: Shaun Boyd, Curator of Politics and Government, Curator of Archives, History Colorado Shaun will have information about History Colorado as well as interesting displays from the Archives. .