2025 Arapaho Language & Culture Camp | Right Relationship Boulder

Camp 2025 group photo. Photo credit: Jake Beyer, YMCA of the Rockies

Reflections from Attendees

Zay

Zay neé’eesíh’inoo (my name is Zay). I am 14 and going into 9th grade. I would like to say hohóú (thank you) to our sponsors for making this possible for us to learn our Hinóno’eitíit (Arapaho language) and also having fun exciting things to do. My favorite thing to do was going to the arts and crafts and riding horses. My favorite thing we did at the house was playing hand games and sweep your tipi, and with that I really enjoyed my week here. Hohóú (thank you) sponsors.

Na Cha ni say

Wohéí nenééninoo Na Cha ni say nee’éetéíhinoo Howoh‘oowu’ Bo’oobe’ (hello, my name is Na cha Ni say. I also go by Bryce. I am 17 years old and am from Oklahoma. I’m in 12th grade. My thoughts on learning my language is fantastic. I loved learning more about it and hearing the stories told by the elders. The activities were all fun but my favorite thing about this was horseback riding with my family. I wanna say hohóú (thank you) to the Cheyenne and Arapaho language program, the cooks, Néiwoo (Grandmother) Nebésiiwoo (Grandfather) and the sponsors because without y’all we wouldn’t be here together as a family.

Josephine

Josephine neé’eesíh’inoo (my name is Josephine). When coming to this camp, I was nervous but very excited. I loved coming here last time and I learned a lot about my culture and traditions. From the mountains to the way water brings life. And learning Native Arapaho church songs and how they are used. Having the opportunity to learn about the Hinonoei lifestyle, while also having fun. I’m able to use what I know in order to understand what to do and what not to do. I learned how we are able to communicate to the animals and the earth. Knowing my duty as an Arapaho person. While being able to have fun learning the Arapaho language. I was able to create some art for people who are also a big part of bringing this camp to life. I want to thank Nebésiiwoo (Grandfather) and Néiwoo (Grandmother) with helping with teaching us young ones the way. I am so grateful to have you two in my life. Bííxoo3é3en (I love you.) Thank you all for your support and appreciation.

Adam

Adam neé’eesíh’inoo (my name is Adam). Nenééninoo henííne’étiinoo Wo’teenkoo’oh Hiinóno’éíninoo (I am Arapaho). I live in Oklahoma and I’m 14. My most favorite activity is horse riding and aerial challenge. My favorite word is “hííko” (no). My favorite language activity is when we pray. Hohóú (thank you) to the sponsors and hohóú (thank you) to the cooks.

Amerie

Tóus Amerie neé’eesíh’inoo henííne’étiinoo Howoh‘oowu’ Bo’oobe’ (hello my name is Amerie. I live in Oklahoma). Out of everything I should start on this first— I wanna say hohóú (thank you) to Regina, Billie, Megan, Tarah, Tuli, and Darren for bringing us out to Colorado and watching over us throughout this week. Hohóú (thank you) to the cooks for cooking and always making sure we are full and well fed. Hohóú (thank you) to Néiwoo (Grandmother) and Nebésiiwoo (Grandfather) for teaching us valuable, important stories. Hohóú (thank you) to Dr. Cowell for meeting us and answering all of our questions and sharing your wise knowledge. And a big HOHÓÚ! (THANK YOU!) to the sponsors that made this camp possible. Without all of y’alls hard work, strength, bravery, and hope, we wouldn’t be here.

A wise woman told us that, “We are not here by luck, we are here because Creator placed us here for a reason.” I felt that part deeply because all I thought about when she said that is how blessed and fortunate we are to be here learning our language, culture, and meeting new friends and making many memories. Even though we only had a week together all the good times and awesome memories I made with y’all will forever linger and stay in my mind, from playing hand games to practicing our introductions or from playing Uno in Arapaho to us girls tearing it in our room, I will always know I had the best time with all of y’all. I have many good moments from this week but my all time favorite moment from this camp was definitely where we all got to experience the beauty of the mountains together. I don’t think I could ever have a better group than y’all and I want to say hohóú (thank you) for making it the best time with me.

Out of everything I just said, I wanna tell y’all this camp really affected the way I see life. We are very fortunate and blessed to have people that carry on our culture. I look up to y’all and I think you are the best leaders and I hope to carry on our culture and ways just like you one day. But until then I will proceed to try my hardest to represent and carry our language for our youth and people. Hohóú (thank you).

Allyanna

Tous, Allyanna neé’eesíh’inoo hini-na-a-tina Oklahoma, Hinóno’éíninoo. (Hello, my name is Allyanna. I am from Oklahoma, I am Arapaho). I will be going into 6th grade this year. I am really glad I have this opportunity to get to come to this camp. It has been so fun and probably one of the prettiest places I’ve seen. My favorite activity has probably been the craft store and I also really liked playing handgames. Other than that the other activities have been really fun. I really liked learning about our language. I liked meeting new people. My favorite was the Rocky Mountains, it was so peaceful and really pretty. I wanna thank the cooks for making sure we ate and we were all full. And I wanna thank the sponsors for bringing us here and letting us do all these fun things. Hohóú (thank you).

Trent

Héébe Trent neé’eesíh’inoo Hinóno’éíninoo (Hello my name is Trent and I am Arapaho). I am 15 years old and live in Oklahoma and am in 9th grade. My favorite activity was wóxhóox hiinííkoheinoo (horse riding). Hohóú (thank you) sponsors for all this stuff.

Illyana

Illyanna neé’eesíh’inoo Hinóno’éíninoo (My name is Illyana and I am Arapaho). I am 10 years old. I live in North Dakota. I am going to 5th grade. I loved everything about this Arapaho Language Camp. It was super fun and I honestly wished it was longer. The activities were great too, but my favorites were Sweep Your Teepee and the aerial course. I loved being around and learning about my culture and where I come from. I want to thank the cooks for making sure we ate. I’d also like to thank the sponsors for letting us do all of this stuff. Without them, this wouldn’t be happening and we wouldn’t have the new friends we now have. Hohóú (thank you).

Aleigha

Tóus, Aleigha neé’eesíh’inoo (Hello, my name is Aleigha). I am 14, and I live in Oklahoma. I am a freshman. Hiinono’eninoo and I only have positive things to say about the learning language camp because it gave me a chance to experience and learn about my culture and language and meet new nice people and see more beautiful things like the mountains and lakes. The activities we took were really fun and I am glad I got to experience all of these things. I also want to mention how the counselors did a good job at helping us learn more of our language and our history and they tried their very best with what they were given. Hohou (thank you) to the sponsors for making this whole trip possible. Hohóú (thank you).

Ariana

Tóus, Ariana neé’eesíh’inoo (Hello, my name Ariana). I am 14 years old and I am from Oklahoma, and I am writing this note to express my sincere gratitude for your help. Your kindness and generosity have made a significant impact, and I am deeply grateful for your support. I wouldn’t have got to learn more about my culture, ancestors, and learn about my culture. I just wanna shout out to the people that made this possible, the chaperones, the kids, and the elders for teaching us things that we didn’t know. Your willingness to share your knowledge, traditions, and stories enriched my experience in ways words cannot fully capture. I have learned so much from your insights, and I am deeply grateful for the time and effort you dedicated to our group.

Acacia

Tóus neé’eesíh’inoo Acacia, noh Hinóno’éíninoo (Hello, my name is Acacia, and I am Arapaho). I’m 16, in my junior year of high school and from North Dakota. I want to start by saying hohóú (thank you) to my parents Joshua and Dimitri, for driving us here to this beautiful place, my grandmother for inviting us, and our sponsors, hohóú (thank you), we probably wouldn’t have been able to have this happen, you played a bigger part in this camp than you think. This experience has been amazing, peaceful, fun, and challenging. Like the aerial challenge was scary and very interesting. Learning my language was easy but hard to remember how to pronounce, but I really hope one day I can have a full conversation with my elders. Hinóno’éíninoo. (I am Arapaho.) Hohóú (thank you).

Colorado Outdoors Magazine Article on Camp: Dreaming in Arapaho

It is our honor to have our story published in Colorado Outdoors Magazine sharing the beauty and success of our 4th year of the Arapaho Language and Culture Camp. Read the story here: Dreaming in Arapaho