Native Roots: American Indians in Early Denver Walking Tour

By Shawn Snow

“Nothing Lives Long, Only the Earth and the Mountains”

This quote, attributed to White Antelope, a Cheyenne Indian, speaks volumes to the fate faced by the native populations of the Western Hemisphere after 1492.  Devastated by disease, warfare and mistreatment, native peoples have nonetheless persevered to the present day.  For American Indians in Colorado, the story does not simply begin with the foundation of Denver in 1858, but hundreds of years before that with the arrival of the horse via Spanish explorers.  Thus began a sustained interaction between European explorers, trappers and traders and American Indians.  Up until 1858, there had been no permanent settlements in the Denver area for Euro-Americans.  This changed with the discovery of gold near the banks of Cherry Creek.  While the Arapahoe Indians initially welcomed the “settlers” to the area, they had no way of knowing these latest arrivals were
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Indigenous Film at the Gardens: April 19, The Gift of Pachamama

In support of our 2011 exhibition, Native Roots | Modern Form: Plants, Peoples & the Art of Allan Houser, we are partnering with the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management (IIIRM) to present a year-long film series highlighting indigenous voices and issues from around the world.

Films are free to the public; a suggested donation of $5 supports public programming at IIIRM and Denver Botanic Gardens.

Showing April 19, 2011 at 7 p.m.: The Gift of Pachamama (El Regalo de la Pachamama), Director Toshifumi Matsushita. Bolivia/Japan, 2008. 102 minutes

In Quechua and Aymara with English subtitles. Family-friendly.

"Pachamama" Directed by Toshifumi Matsushita, 2008

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Unusual Edible Ornamental

I have been asked two questions repeatedly this week. The first by visitors to the Sacred Earth garden: “What is the red plant?” The second by people eating lunch with me: “Why is your lunch bright pink?

The answer to both is the same: Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus).
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