The Cultivating Connections Group (previously known as the Visiting Group) fosters and facilitates sustainable person-to-person relationships based on the values of Reciprocity, Respect, Responsibility, and Relevance by supporting Indigenous communities in meeting their goals, including holding an annual culture and language youth camp; providing detailed information on lodging for Indigenous peoples when visiting Boulder Valley; and creating opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to visit one another. Our two main projects are the Annual Arapaho Language & Culture Camp held each summer and the Visiting Project (lodging/hosting of Indigenous persons in the Boulder Valley/Front range).
Vision Statement
The Cultivating Connections Group commits to a society where Indigenous Peoples are honored, respected, and integral to life in the Boulder Valley.
Cultivating Connections Group Contact
For general inquiries on Cultivating Connections Group information: contact Sallie Robinson Ward at sallierw@me.com
For Visiting Project inquiries only: contact Linda Woods at lwcounsel@gmail.com
Project Funding Sources
Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant
Arapaho Language & Culture Camps GoFundMe
Visiting Project
Are you an Indigenous person that would like to request a place to stay in the Boulder Valley/Front Range? Indigenous folks looking to visit: fill out this form
OR, are you interested in hosting Indigenous persons or groups in your home or have a community center where groups can stay? To host Indigenous persons or groups please fill out this form
Support Arapaho Language & Culture Camps
The Cultivating Connections Group with RRB is fundraising for Arapaho Language & Culture Camps. Arapaho elders and students come together in their ancestral homelands of Colorado each summer. These educational experiences help students learn Arapaho history, language, culture, science, reading, and writing (English and Arapaho). Elders teach prayer, values, and language. The youth come to more deeply know who they are, where they come from, and have this knowledge for the rest of their lives.
“We could hear the songs of our ancestors in the wind through the trees and feel their footprints as they walked in this place.” – 2022 camp attendee
In support of the annual camps, Right Relationship Boulder is seeking donations through GoFundMe. Blessings and prayers for all who donate. May you receive abundance for your generosity!
Go to GoFundMe HERE
News & Media
Sky-Hi News: Arapaho Elders and Youth Return to their Ancestral Lands this Summer at YMCA
Pictures and Videos from 2023 Arapaho Language & Culture Camp
2024 Arapaho Language & Culture Camp
Reflections from Attendees
“Tóus (Hello)… Throughout my life I’ve been surrounded by ceremonies and traditional lifestyles. I try my best to attend and practice these traditions. I am Arapaho, Apache, and Navajo. I want to be the best can and to keep our people going. I came here learn more about my people and I was excited to know I was allowed to come. This whole trip has been a blast. I was not expecting this many activities and surprises. This is my first time being here and this has been such an amazing experience. I love my language and expanding my vocabulary. My journey here has really made me feel more grateful for who I am… The more I learn about my people helps with being confident in myself, knowing I am more than what people describe me as. I feel as if this trip has boosted my confidence so much. I am so grateful there are so many people here to help with this trip. The cooks, the teachers, elders, and young ones. This place feels like home. Aho.”
“…I am from Oklahoma… I am sixteen years young, not old. I’m very happy coming on this trip and to have the opportunity to meet these people. I came here last year and had so much fun but it doesn’t compare to this years’. As the adventures we went on together makes me wish it lasted longer. Learning Arapaho throughout the week in the most fun ways and having people around me also wanting to learn motivated me toward connecting with my culture and with others. My favorite memory during this week was riding the horses. As it reminded me of being younger with my grandpa who was the one to teach my first word, hohóu (thank you). Hohóu (Thank you) for giving us the opportunity to come back home and let us reconnect with our ways.”
“…I am from Oklahoma and I’m 14 years old. I wanted to come here to learn my language and hear people speak. We heard our elders talk about our history and culture and stories, and I learned lots about it. We came back home to see and come visit our people and I made many memories. I think my favorite memory here is when we were at the pool having fun swimming. But my favorite learning experience was at Sand Creek and I got to read and see our old letters and see our land and got to listen to the Park Ranger. I am thankful for the sponsors and Regina for letting me come and be here, and the elders for teaching and telling the historical stories, and the cooks for cooking and making meals. And overall thankful for everyone for helping me learn and making my time here fun.”
“…I am 12 years old and turning 13… I am Northern Arapaho and Sioux. My favorite things about this camp is that I got to learn more about my culture and language. When I got here I didn’t know much Arapaho and now I am going back home with more of my language. I am so thankful for the sponsors for making this happen and giving all of us this opportunity to learn more of our culture. I am so very thankful for the elders for being here and teaching us this way of life. I am thankful for being back in my homeland and knowing where I come from. I am also thankful for the cooks for making sure we were all fed and hydrated. Hohóu (Thank you)”
“I am very grateful I got to come to this language camp because I am learning more than I would at home. I also like hearing and learning more Arapaho culture. My favorite thing about this camp was probably when we went horseback riding or probably the aerial challenge…I learned more Arapaho than I did before and I feel like this camp was really beneficial. If I had to choose a favorite word in Arapaho it would be bii3íhi which means eat ‘cause I like to eat. Thank you, cooks, for feeding us breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had a lot of fun and a great learning experience. Thank you Elders, Regina, and sponsors because if it wasn’t for you all I wouldn’t be here today learning about all this. And it also feels good to be back home in our homeland.”
“I would like to say hohóu (thank you) to our sponsors for making this possible for us to be here and learn the language from our elders in these hóho’éni’ (mountains). I’m really grateful for this opportunity. I learned a lot of stories and words…My favorite part about the camp is when we went hiking.”
“…I am from Oklahoma…My tribes are Arapaho and Navajo. I enjoyed traveling, exploring, and learning about our ancestral homelands. Next, I loved all of our language activities, sessions, and cultural practices. Finally, I really loved being a chaperone, teacher, mentor, and positive role model for our Arapaho youth. I took Arapaho Language 1 & 2 in high school in my sophomore and junior year. I graduated in 2011, since then have drifted away from Arapaho language. I grew up practicing sweats and looking on at Dances and Powwows. I was always interested gourd dancing. So last year I got the wonderful opportunity to take a position… Arapaho gourd dance, Arapaho language and culture, all come together at once. I’m still learning and practicing my language and culture. This camp allowed me to take part in language activities, sessions, and practicing our ways. Next, I loved to travel especially to the Rocky Mountains. Traveling, exploring, and learning about our ancestral Homelands. It’s very essential. This camp has allowed me to do that. As an adult mentor/teacher, I got to speak, learn, and travel to sacred sites that will have an impact on my life forever. I gained more knowledge here and being part of Arapaho language in Oklahoma. Finally, I had a blast chaperoning the Arapaho youth. It was exciting to watch them participate in language activities…”
“…I had fun learning the language while also playing games. My favorite words I have learned are ceenóku (sit down), eih’e3tii and Ni’tece (goodnight). I like the yurts because it is like a hotel…I hope that you keep sponsoring this language camp so other Hinóno’éíno’ (Arapahos) can also learn the language. Hohóu (Thank you).”
“…I am from Oklahoma and I’m 18 years old. I am very proud to be speaking Arapaho to you all today. I am very appreciative for the opportunity to attend this Arapaho language camp. I am more than grateful for all of your donation and sponsorships. I am being totally honest when I say that I didn’t know much of the language before I got here. I can’t thank everyone enough for giving me more knowledge about the language. My most favorite part of this trip was hiking and being able to walk in the same mountains my ancestors walked in long before me… I loved being able to do all of the activities the YMCA provided for us. Horseback riding was a personal favorite. While being here in this cabin with my new family I have learned so much about my people and were we come from. The knowledge that I have gained will be passed on so we remain resilient to colonization. I have loved my time here and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you all… Hohóu (Thank you).”
Photos from Camp 2024
Credits for a Successful Camp
Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant
Right Relationship Boulder
Cultivating Connections Group
YMCA Of the Rockies – Snow Mountain Ranch
Northern Arapaho Tribe
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
Dr. Andrew Cowell, University of Colorado Boulder
Jeremiah RisingBuffalo Maybee, National Park Service
Nicolas Toll, Meow Wolf
2023 Arapaho Language & Culture Camp
Reflections from Attendees
“I live in the city with light pollution and this was the first time I have seen the stars like this.”
“I loved going tubing and star gazing.”
“I don’t want to leave.”
“We are so grateful for the cooks and all their hard work and heart in the food.”
“It has been a blessing to hear stories of from elders and in the language.”
“This has been an amazing opportunity to bring the tribe from Wyoming and Oklahoma together, youth that have never met each other and live in the same state were able to meet and be together.”
“I learned that my ancestors that were in the Sand Creek Massacre—that all our people wanted was peace.”
“(Addressing RRB volunteers): Thank you for making the relationship with the Arapaho right.”
“In the beauty and the spirit we could feel our people, our ancestors knew this place. We felt safe here.”
“Without language, our culture dies, and so do we.”
Photos from Camp 2023
2022 Arapaho Language & Culture Camp
Reflections from Attendees
“It was perfect to reminisce about our ancestors who loved this area.”
“This was awesome! Thank you so much!”
“We didn’t want to leave home to go back. We call this our home.”
“In the beauty and the spirit we could feel our people knew that place. We felt safe there. There were only 2 canyons that lead there so we felt safe. No one could sneak up on us.”
The elders in general wanted to: “…rename the mountains…they are our mountains and our home.”
“The history of the place does not include any information on Arapaho. They need to correct the brochures to include true history. This feels important. This hurt us. In 1914 our elderly shared the names of the stream and the mountains…”
“To have the proper names is important… we feel it would enhance people’s understanding of the land when they visit.”
“We could hear the songs of our ancestors in the wind through the trees and feel their footprints as they walked in this place.”
“We felt healed to just stand on this land.”
“We would stay all summer if we could.”
Photos from Camp 2022
Annual Reports
2024 Annual Report (in progress)
2023 Annual Report
~ 2023 Camp: Completion of second annual Arapaho Language & Culture Camp at The YMCA of the Rockies in the summer of 2023. Hosting: 18 Youth, 5 Elders and an additional 8 adults, supporting a total of 33 people. RRB Volunteer and YMCA staff participation in Giveaway ceremony at camp.
~ Media Coverage, including Ski-Hi News article: Arapaho Elders and Youth Return to their Ancestral Lands this Summer at the YMCA, released August 26, 2023. Brochures sharing the story of camp 2022 distributed by The YMCA of the Rockies through 2023 to gain public awareness of Arapaho history and presence.
~ Consultation & Collection of materials: Monthly consultation with the Arapaho and implementation of feedback for future experiences. Collection of testimonials and materials from camp participants (videos, photos, quotes, etc.).
~ Continued partnerships with: The YMCA of the Rockies, Rocky Mountain National Park, and CU staff.
~ Expansion of camp event planning to 2024 and 2025.
~ Recruitment of additional volunteers, specific to grant writing. Gained support from one experienced grant writer and two volunteers newer to grant writing. First grant applied to in September 2023, awarded a portion.
~ Outdoor Equity Grant (Colorado Parks & Wildlife) recipient, raising $50,000 to be allocated in 2024 and 2025.
~ Fundraising in 2023 resulted in: grassroots GoFundMe donations ($5,549), direct donations ($5,100), grant awards ($50,000), totaling $60,649 raised for upcoming language and culture revitalization projects.
~Updated, maintained and managed database of local Boulder hosts who provide free lodging for Indigenous persons visiting Colorado.
~ Collaboration with fiscal sponsor, Mediators Foundation, regarding management of finances.
2022 Annual Report
~ Completion of first in-person Arapaho Language and Culture Camp at YMCA of the Rockies in summer 2022. Hosting 16 Youth and 8 Elders.
~ Consultation with the Arapaho, Billie Sutton, and Teresa HisChase regarding feedback for 2022 camp by meeting with the elders who attended.
~ Collection of feedback and materials from participants of 2022 camp (photos, quotes, etc)
~ Continued partnership with the YMCA of the Rockies, Karen D’Onofrio
~ Consultation with CU professor, Andy Cowell, PhD, regarding long-term vision of working with tribes and CU
~ Revision of 2023 Camp based on 2022 camp feedback to Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, CO
~ 2023 Camp event planning, fundraising, launch of GoFundMe. Raised approximately $9,600 by December 2022 toward camp lodging
~ Successful fundraising efforts for camp 2023 (in-person, email, social media, RRB newsletter inclusion of camp information)
~ Correspondence with donors for camp 2023, additional fundraising ideas implemented. For example, a paragraph on camp will be included in the Botanical Liaisons, LLC, upcoming newsletter
~ Vision for 2024 Camp to include both Cheyenne and Arapaho per tribal input
~ Advocacy with Outdoor Equity Grant for possible future inclusion of Indigenous persons whose ancestral homelands are in Colorado and with current Colorado citizens for their language grant.
~Updated, maintained and managed database of Hosts who provide free lodging for Indigenous persons visiting Colorado.
~ Collaboration with fiscal sponsor, Mediators Foundation, regarding management of fundraising efforts.
~ Networking with additional volunteers willing to support with free grant writing and future camp venues.
~ Design and funding of welcome gifts for 2022 camp attendees.