The Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs celebrated its 50th anniversary, and its long-term impact, at Fort Lewis College Wednesday.
“For 50 years, the commission has served as a bridge between the state of Colorado and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, helping to strengthen government-to-government relationships, elevate tribal voices and ensure that native perspectives are reflected in state policies and programs,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera, chair of the CCIA, during the celebration. “This anniversary is not only a celebration of an institution, it's a recognition of tribal sovereignty, the leadership, the people, and the partnerships that shaped this work across generations.”
Since its founding in 1976, the CCIA has worked as a bridge between the state and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and other federally recognized tribes. It focuses on amplifying the priorities and voices of American Indian and Alaska Native communities across the state.
The event included performances by The Yellow Jacket Singers, Native American cuisine and a range of speakers.
Several prominent figures, leaders and tribal representatives attended or spoke at the celebration, including CCIA At-Large Commissioner Lucille Echohawk; Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Secretary Marilynn House; Southern Ute Tribal Chairman Marvin Pinnecoose; former Ute Mountain Ute chairman Manuel Heart; Little Miss Ute Mountain 2025-26 Baylee Littlebear; and Representative Katie Stewart and Senator Cleve Simpson.
Pinnecoose thanked Stewart, Simpson and others who have played roles in passing important legislation related to Native American rights, and said though there has been improvement, recognizing the hard work of those who came before is important, and there is still work to be done.
“In my head, my heart, I'm thinking we still have a lot of issues, we have a long ways to go, and a lot of resources to defend (and) a lot of messaging to put out there,” Pinnecoose said. “... We are very fortunate – our tribes are in a really good place; but we don’t take that for granted, because to do so would disrespect the people that came before us – the sweat and tears, the labor that they put in, so that we could have a better life.”
Governor Jared Polis, who issued a proclamation declaring 2026 as the 50th Anniversary of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, expressed his support for the commission and its five decades of work in a video screened at the event.
“As we honor this milestone, we double down on the important work being done,” Polis said. “CCIA leadership has led to important problems, including protecting cultural resources, strengthening the Indian Child Welfare Act, elevating state tribal consultations, supporting Native youth and education, and advancing policies that honor tribal sovereignty and self-determination.”
The commission has had a significant impact over its 50 years of work.
Among other accomplishments, the commission has worked to realize plans for a Sand Creek Massacre memorial and exhibit, which will be installed in the Denver Capitol’s west plaza in November. The commission had Ute Tribal Nations flags installed at the Capitol; launched Ute Day, an annual event to celebrate, honor and recognize the contributions of the Ute Tribes; and was instrumental in getting a 2021 executive order signed by Polis that rescinded the harmful 1864 proclamations issued by then Colorado Territorial Governor John Evans.
The Commission also helped open the Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc in 2021 – the first public charter school on an Indian reservation in Colorado.
“Many accomplishments have happened in these 50 years, but there is still so much more to be done and achieved,” House said. “It is gratifying to see the appointees working hard to achieve the goals of the two Ute tribes, and it is only by working together that these goals will be achieved and obtained.”
In an interview with The Durango Herald, Primavera stressed the uniqueness and importance of the government-to-government relationship between the state and the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute tribes.
“I think we've set a really good foundation in the last 50 years with recognizing sovereignty and addressing all of the issues together that the tribes have identified,” she said. “As I've traveled to other state events, I always hear, ‘How did you do this in Colorado?’ I think it's really something to celebrate.”
Going forward, speakers stressed focusing on ensuring water rights, pushing for robust education about Native American history in schools, and supporting economic development and cultural preservation.
One avenue to ensuring this work continues, Primavera said, is the creation of the 2025 Tribal and American Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Roadmap.
The roadmap, which includes recommendations from tribes and Alaska Native and Native American communities, was created to help legislators and leaders better understand the needs and expectations of federally recognized tribes, Native communities and individuals, and keep important work moving forward when current CCIA staff move on.
“(It will) give some direction of where we need to go in the next, hopefully, 50, 150, 250 years,” Primavera said.
epond@durangoherald.com
