The City of Boulder and representatives from the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes have developed a draft stewardship plan for the city open space land believed to be where Fort Chambers once stood. Fort Chambers was used to train Boulderites before they went to participate in the Sand Creek Massacre — the 1864 murder of some 230 Native Americans who believed they were camping in a protected area near a United States fort.
The draft plan, titled “Heal the Land; Heal the People,” has steps spanning ecological restoration to farmstead improvements. Restoring ponds left from gravel mining is one concrete step outlined in the plan, as is removing berms to restore the natural floodplain and create wetlands that support native wildlife. A healing trail is also highlighted, with indigenous plantings and places for reflection and gathering.
Fred Mosqueda, a Southern Arapaho, said that when tribal representatives began working with the city, staff listened with open minds so all could “understand where we were coming from and the things that happened on the land.” He added, “as we began to understand what we could do together, I think it began to heal us by being able to talk about it and make this place a place to tell the whole story.”
Boulder Reporting Lab spoke with Fred Mosqueda regarding the Sand Creek Massacre and Boulder’s involvement. In the interview, Mosqueda noted the frequent discussion of the massacre and emphasized the importance of acknowledging Boulder’s involvement, along with that of residents of other municipalities. He also pointed out positive developments happening for Native Americans along the Front Range.
“All along the Front Range, there’s a lot of good things going on for the tribes,” Mosqueda said in December 2022. “I think in the coming years, you may see us Arapaho and Cheyenne there again on the Front Range as a people. I believe we’ll be part of the landscape again one day, not just by the names of the streets and trails and mountains.”
A community questionnaire is available for those who want to comment on the draft plan. Input should be provided before April 7, 2024.
