Indigenous Connections and Land Acknowledgement

In 2025, the City and County of Broomfield (CCOB) developed a land acknowledgement in collaboration with tribal partners. This acknowledgement recognizes City Council meetings take place on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Arapaho (Hinono’eiteen), Cheyenne (Tsétsėhéstȧhese), Ute (Núuchiu) and other Native peoples, and encourages further reflection and action in relation to Native peoples.

This land acknowledgement is only a small piece of the relationship-development and partnering work CCOB has done with sovereign Indigenous Nations and with Native people in our community.

City Council Land Acknowledgement

“We begin this meeting by acknowledging that we gather on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Arapaho (Hinono’eiteen), Cheyenne (Tsétsėhéstȧhese), Ute (Núuchiu) and other Native peoples. Indigenous peoples have cared for this land for generations and continue to maintain deep cultural and spiritual ties to it. As the City and County of Broomfield, we recognize the responsibility to honor this legacy and the enduring presence of Native communities. May this acknowledgment inspire action that fosters greater understanding, truth and respect for Indigenous peoples.”

Reflection and Action

The City and County of Broomfield is committed to genuine and transparent action. As we plan future projects and develop new strategic efforts, our goal is to further and elevate the importance of strong partnerships with community groups, Indigenous residents and Indigenous organizations. The philosophies of diversity, equity and inclusion are integrated throughout CCOB in services, programs and efforts that are compliant with all local, state and federal antidiscrimination laws. All staff members are encouraged to own the work of fostering nondiscriminatory equity, inclusion and diversity in our community through both our outward-facing as well as internal governmental functions. Some ongoing actions being taken to support this work on a city- and county-wide level include:

Scheduling nondiscriminatory and culturally sensitive staff trainings
Focusing outreach to native communities on long term plans
Offering nondiscriminatory bias and various cultural awareness trainings annually for staff
Prioritizing language accessibility
Establishing community ambassadors and representation
Participating in the Broomfield Cheyenne and Arapaho Sister Cities group

The City and County of Broomfield’s equity statement is the guiding force that helps align the organization toward inclusion and equity.

Ongoing Work and Partnerships

Native American Heritage Month Proclamation, Oct. 10, 2023

View the City Council meeting video from Oct. 10, 2023. The proclamation and short statement is at the beginning of the meeting.

Broomfield Out Loud Mural Project

The City and County of Broomfield installed a mural by award-winning Native American (Arapaho) artist Brent Learned. The mural, installed at 120th Ave. and Hwy 287 near the current mental health focused murals, honors the Cheyenne and Arapaho people and their connection to the land.

Learn more about this Broomfield Out Loud project.

A Broomfield Open Space Property is named ‘Water Runs Back’

The open space west of I-25 and east of County Road 7 was named “Water Runs Back,” at the suggestion of Fred Mosqueda, the Language and Culture Coordinator for the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. The name reflects how the water in Community Ditch appears to flow back up to the mountains. The long term management plan for the site is also planned to support ongoing efforts toward reconciliation and indigenous representation.

Broomfield and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Celebrate Signing of Sister City Recognition

At an event held on Saturday, March 22, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and the Broomfield Sister Cities organization, in conjunction with CCOB, celebrated the signing of a formal recognition as Sister Cities. For more information, visit broomfieldsistercities.org.

View the CCOB Council Memorandum.

Partner Webpages

Learn more about the City and County of Broomfield’s tribal partners who have collaborated on our land acknowledgements, named Water Runs Back Open Space and supported our Sister Cities effort at the links below with more partners to come! Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes website.

Timeline

October 2019

A fortuitous meeting between Broomfield resident Marrton Dormish and Fred Mosqueda, Language and Culture Coordinator for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes at an Indigenous Peoples’ Day event in Boulder, leads to the formation of Confluence in Broomfield, a group aimed at restoring relationships with and increasing education about Indigenous people.

December 2020

“Only the Earth and the Mountains” (2020) film was screened at the Broomfield Auditorium with a panel discussion with the filmmaker, Eleni Sclavenitis, and Indigenous leaders from the Northern Arapaho, the Northern Cheyenne, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. “Only the Earth and the Mountains” is a film about the Sand Creek Massacre and its ongoing impact on Native communities and the descendants of this horrific event.

March 2022

CCOB’s Open Space and Trails Advisory Committee (OSTAC) approved the Open Space and Trails departmental land acknowledgement created in consultation with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes at the request of the OSTAC.

May 2022

A delegation from Broomfield visited Oklahoma, where the group from Broomfield met with leaders from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and discussed partnership opportunities and deepened relationships.

October 2023

A delegation of Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal leaders visited Broomfield for a Soil Exchange Ceremony to honor the newly formed relationship between Broomfield and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

April 2024

Indigenous shrubs are planted in Broomfield County Commons Open Space by volunteers from the Broomfield Open Space Foundation and Broomfield Open Space Action Network.

June 2024

City and County of Broomfield’s employees and Youth Advisory Council visit the Arapaho Language and Culture encampment to meet youth from Oklahoma at Allenspark.

October 2024

Broomfield Out Loud Showcase event with a highlight on the stories of Roy Dean Bullcoming, Frank MedicineWater, Pauline MedicineWater, Chester Whiteman and Fred Mosqueda from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

November 2024

Indigenous Thriving and Perseverance in Colorado panel discussion with local Indigenous artists Marty Strenczwilk, Tom Myer, Kristina Bad Hand Maldonado, MC Philip Gover and Fred Mosqueda, Language and Culture Coordinator from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

March 2025

An open space property in northeast Broomfield informally referred to as the Harmer Property property named "Water Runs Back" or "Cihce'Koohuu Nec" in Arapaho from a name suggested by Fred Mosqueda during the October 2023 visit during a Broomfield City Council meeting.

An official signing ceremony was held in Denver to commemorate the new Sister City relationship between the City and County of Broomfield and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

April 2025

Five members of the Broomfield Teen Council and three City and County of Broomfield adult chaperones visit Oklahoma to meet with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes’ Youth Council and to learn more about the history, culture and current work of the Cheyenne and Arapaho people.

June 2025

Arapaho artist Brent Learned paints three new murals along US 287 and 120th Avenue in Broomfield on the theme of ‘Home’ and the connection to Broomfield that the Cheyenne and Arapaho people have.

City and County of Broomfield City Council adopts a Land Acknowledgement.