Support Arapaho Youth's Journey to Ancestral Lands

Hello everyone! We are requesting monetary donations for expenses we'll incur as we travel to Colorado with our tribal elders and youth for the Estes Park Arapaho Language Camp: July 20-26, 2025.

The Arapaho: Our People lived in that area for thousands of years. Our ceremonies happened there throughout each year as our bands would reunite as one, in those mountains.

Our ancestors were born there. They lived in harmony with Mother Nature, and they fished and swam in all of those rivers, lakes, and streams. There are many stories of our time there. We have historical and sacred places of the Arapaho in our homelands, and at the Camp, our elders will transmit this knowledge to our tribal youth, so that this knowledge will continue to the younger generations.

Storytelling will be included at Camp. We have stories that tell of things that occurred there, as well as some of our encounters with other Tribes. All of the mountain peaks, valleys, rivers, and lakes all have Arapaho names. We have a lot to share about our time there. Not only did we fish the waters, but that was a place where we hunted wild game, harvested medicines, wild vegetables, and sustained our Way of Life for thousands of years, as we aligned our lives with the changing seasons. At Estes Park, we are going to go through the mountains and show the youth our homelands as well as tell stories of each location. Through Storytelling, our youth are going to reconnect with our land and this is a major step in teaching them their identity.

Our ancestors' footprints are still in the earth throughout the mountains of Colorado. Our songs are still sung when the wind blows the trees. We believe that our language is still being spoken by all beings of creation in our homelands as we still live in harmony with nature.

Today, as we retrace our ancestors' footsteps and revisit our homelands, we realize that we can no longer live our culture in a way that once was: in a natural environment, in the place we knew as home. It was a beautiful time when astronomy stories were told, and our education system was intact. Our spiritual connection to Mother Earth in Estes Park will guide us through the week as we return home.

Today, our physical ties to our homelands have been disconnected, but not severed. Our spiritual connection remains intact. Our youth will learn Arapaho language, culture, and history and this experience will equip them with the abilities to make healthy choices, and set goals and work hard to achieve them. They are going to learn their identity as Arapaho, and in doing so, they will succeed in life, in every aspect. This is what we want for all of our youth.

Our fluent speaking Arapaho elders commit to sharing our traditional knowledge with our youth from Wyoming and Oklahoma. The youth will learn in the best environment, just like our ancestors.

Our People's presence will still be alive in Colorado. Our ancestors will be smiling down on us.

We are appreciative of any amount you may be able to assist us with. The proceeds from the fundraiser will be used for travel to and from Estes Park, food, camping supplies, and teaching materials for our Arapaho youth who will attend our Camp. Our goal is $25,000. By donating, our entire Arapaho Tribe will be blessed and benefit for generations to come, as our youth will know who they are and where they come from.

Checks can be made payable to:

Estes Park Language Camp

acct# #8000349936580

They can be mailed to:

First Interstate Bank

323 E. Main St.

Riverton, WY. 82501

We'd like to give special thanks to Right Relations Boulder and the YMCA for partnering with us. They've already secured our housing expenses and the YMCA is going to provide youth activities such as an Ice breaker activity which teaches teamwork, hiking, arts and crafts, and guest speakers for our group. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Language Department in Oklahoma will also be providing monetary assistance for the Camp in the form of consumables and groceries. We are truly thankful for everyone's contributions so far.

Hohou: thank you,

WY Coordinator

OK Coordinator

Arapaho Elders

Arapaho Youth