November is Native American Heritage Month (NAHM)

November is officially recognized as Native American Heritage Month (NAHM), a vital time dedicated to honoring the rich histories, vibrant cultures, and enduring contributions of America's first peoples. In Colorado, a state with deep Indigenous roots spanning millennia—home to the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and many others—this celebration takes on special significance. Rather than viewing Native American history as a closed chapter, Colorado's major cultural institutions are committing to showcasing it as a dynamic, living legacy. This year, museums across the state are opening their doors for a powerful series of exhibitions, symposiums, and community events that move beyond simple acknowledgment to foster genuine understanding and dialogue. From the state-run History Colorado network to the world-class Denver Art Museum, here is a detailed look at how Colorado is observing Native American Heritage Month and the powerful stories these institutions are helping to tell.

History Colorado: Centering Tribal Voices in State History

History Colorado, which manages a network of museums across the state, stands at the forefront of historical reckoning and collaborative storytelling. Their Native American Heritage Month programming is deeply rooted in correcting past narratives by centering the voices of tribal partners.

History Colorado Center (Denver)

The History Colorado Center hosts one of the most significant and emotionally powerful permanent exhibitions in the state: The Sand Creek Massacre: The Betrayal that Changed Cheyenne and Arapaho People Forever.

This exhibition is not just a historical display; it is an act of historical correction and healing. Developed in deep consultation with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the Northern Arapaho Tribe, and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, the narrative is drawn directly from tribal accounts and oral histories passed down through generations. It chronicles the deadliest single day in Colorado's history—November 29, 1864—when U.S. troops attacked a peaceful encampment of mostly women, children, and elders, murdering over 230 people.

The exhibit uses a variety of mediums to tell the whole story, long before and long after the massacre. Visitors encounter historic and contemporary objects that explore the vibrant culture and traditions of the Cheyenne and Arapaho. Crucially, the exhibition includes listening stations where visitors can hear oral histories from tribal descendants of the massacre survivors, offering an intensely personal and often difficult perspective on the unresolved trauma.

There are also listening stations for letters written by Captain Silas Soule and Lieutenant Joseph Cranmer, two soldiers who famously refused their orders to attack the peaceful camp. This groundbreaking approach ensures that the brutality of the betrayal and the resilience of the people are understood on their own terms, marking a pivotal moment in the museum's commitment to truth and reconciliation.

Trinidad History Museum (Trinidad) and Native American History Month

The Trinidad History Museum is opening a traveling exhibition, Americans, with a crucial Native American focus. The opening program includes a talk and discussion led by Fred Mosqueda Sr. of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. This event provides a vital opportunity for dialogue, pairing a national-level exhibition with local, living tribal history.

The accompanying discussion and Q&A session directly engages the community with the Indigenous experience, offering a framework for how the national history presented in the exhibition resonates specifically within the Southern Colorado landscape. The event features a short film screening and exhibition viewing, providing an engaging, multifaceted educational experience during Native American History Month.

Ute Indian Museum (Montrose) & El Pueblo History Museum (Pueblo)

Other sites in the History Colorado network also highlight Indigenous life. The Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, situated on the historic land of the Ute people, features permanent exhibitions that serve as year-round centers for Ute history and culture, with a focus on the tribe's enduring presence in the region.

Meanwhile, the El Pueblo History Museum in Pueblo hosts a Día de los Muertos Commemoration that recognizes the Indigenous, Mexican, and European influences that blend in Southern Colorado's unique cultural tapestry. This event highlights the deep, pre-colonial roots of the tradition, acknowledging the continuous spiritual connection to their ancestors that Indigenous communities have held.

Denver Art Museum: Global Indigenous Art and Scholarship

The Denver Art Museum (DAM), home to one of the nation's premier collections of Indigenous Arts of North America, is marking the month with events that celebrate Indigenous achievement on a global and scholarly scale.

2025 Native Arts Triennial Symposium: Indigenous Art Without Borders

Taking place in late October, just ahead of NAHM, this two-day symposium serves as a powerful intellectual centerpiece. Celebrating the centennial anniversary of the DAM's Native Arts Department, the event features a dynamic lineup of international artists, scholars, and experts from institutions worldwide, including the Netherlands, Brazil, and New York. The title, Indigenous Art Without Borders, reflects the ambitious scope, exploring the past, present, and future of Indigenous arts and their representation not just in American museums, but in global contexts.

The agenda includes critical discussions on topics such as the evolution of Native Arts collecting, the concept of Global Indigeneity, and new curatorial practices focused on greater collaboration and community interaction. By hosting this event, the DAM is affirming its role as a leader in challenging colonial structures and elevating contemporary Native Futurism, while also promoting historical preservation.

Exhibition: Sustained! The Persistent Genius of Indigenous Art

This long-running exhibition, on view through 2025, is a masterful celebration of 100 years of the DAM's collection of Indigenous art. Developed in close collaboration with an advisory council of local Indigenous community members, the exhibit moves away from simple historical categorization to focus on the Indigenous experience itself. It traces universal human themes—such as beauty, connection, and spirituality—through the lens of Indigenous artistry.

The Indigenous Arts of North America galleries, which house this collection, have been recently reinstalled to offer nuanced viewpoints on the objects. This includes the incorporation of artist-in-residence programs and video features that provide firsthand accounts from Native artists, ensuring the artistic narratives are contemporary and fully contextualized.

Community-Focused Celebrations

Beyond the major metropolitan museums, local communities host equally vital celebrations that foster direct community connection.

City of Longmont Native American Heritage Month Celebration

The City of Longmont hosts a free, family-friendly community event that powerfully focuses on relationship-building. Inspired by the Longmont Sister Cities Association’s relationship with the Northern Arapaho Tribe, the event is designed to foster awareness, healing, and bridge-building between the Longmont community and the land’s original people. The celebration features cultural performances by the Rocky Mountain Indigenous Dancers, a multi-generational group dedicated to keeping their heritage alive through song and dance.

Key highlights include the screening of a short documentary film detailing an elder exchange held over the summer between the City and the Wind River elders, followed by a panel discussion. The event offers a sensory experience of culture, featuring free traditional Indigenous foods, including fresh fry bread and Indian tacos, alongside workshops and craft activities suitable for all ages.

Recognize Native American History Month and Culture

These robust celebrations across Colorado’s major museums underscore a crucial shift: recognizing Native American history and culture is not an activity reserved only for November, but a necessary, year-round commitment. By providing platforms for Indigenous voices, art, and scholarship, institutions like History Colorado and the Denver Art Museum are doing more than just showcasing artifacts; they are actively engaging the public in a contemporary conversation about identity, resilience, and sovereignty.

The events listed here—from the scholarly rigor of the DAM's symposium to the intimate community gatherings in Longmont—offer powerful opportunities for all residents and visitors to connect with the incredible depth of Indigenous heritage right here in the Rocky Mountain West. We encourage you to attend, learn, and commit to supporting these communities long after Native American Heritage Month concludes.