The community is invited to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day at a unique sunrise event on the summit of Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain on Monday, Oct. 14. This special occasion will feature a sunrise blessing ceremony led by Tribal Nation Elders, recognizing and honoring the deep cultural connections Indigenous peoples have with this sacred land and Pikes Peak.
The Gateway will open at 5:30 a.m. with last entry for the special event at 6:30 a.m. To attend, participants must secure a timed entry permit and pay admission fees in advance online or at the gate. There will be no admission fee for tribal nations members. Access to the North Slope Recreation Area will not be offered during this time frame. All access is weather permitting.
“We are honored to host this extraordinary experience as we come together to celebrate the heritage and contributions of Indigenous communities,” said Skyler Rorabaugh, manager of Pikes Peak - America’s Mountain. “Pikes Peak is not just a stunning natural landmark, but a sacred site for many Indigenous tribes who have deep connections to this land. This gathering is an opportunity for us to honor their history, culture and ongoing relationship with the mountain.
At least 48 federally recognized tribes have deep connections to the Colorado landscape and continue to foster their relationships with this land. These tribes include, but are not limited to, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Comanche Nation, the Pawnee Nation, the Kiowa Tribe, the Northern Arapaho Tribe, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. We recognize and honor these indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants and stewards of this land while we also acknowledge their present and future relationships to this place.