Denver to Host First-Ever American Indian Cultural Embassy

Rez Life Weekly Staff

Denver is poised to become the site of the United States’ first-ever American Indian Cultural Embassy, a groundbreaking initiative that aims to honor Indigenous history and welcome Native people back to Colorado, land many tribes once called home. According to CBS-Colorado, the project received a major boost after Denver voters approved funding as part of the recent Vibrant Denver bond measure in November.

At the heart of the project’s vision is a space where Indigenous culture, community, and history can be celebrated, preserved, and shared with future generations.

Rick Williams, Oglala Lakota and Cheyenne leader and president of the nonprofit People of the Sacred Land, spoke about the deep meaning behind the initiative during a recent CBS Colorado visit. For Williams and many community members, the land and iconic buffalo herds of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge symbolize sacred ties to traditions, survival, and culture.

“Homeland is a special term for everybody,” Williams told CBS-Colorado, expressing that many Indigenous people feel alienated from their historic lands in Colorado and lack a communal home where tribal members can gather.

Williams said the Cultural Embassy is envisioned to help fill that void by offering a place of connection, celebration, education, and governance.

The proposed site for the embassy is First Creek Open Space in northeast Denver, near the city’s airport and natural landscapes. The location was chosen for its proximity to key cultural landmarks and transportation access, potentially making the embassy a welcoming hub for visitors from tribes nationwide.

According to Westword.com, Denver City leaders emphasize that the Cultural Embassy will be more than a building; it’s intended to function much like an international embassy does for a nation. Denver City Councilmember Stacie Gilmore described it as neutral ground where government-to-government relations can take place, alongside cultural programs, Indigenous trade fairs, arts exhibitions, and education.

Roughly $20 million from the bond package approved by Denver voters will support the initial design and construction phases.

“This sense of connection and that sense of place is so important if you’re going to welcome people back home,” Gilmore said, highlighting how the Cultural Embassy could anchor a renewed Indigenous presence in the region, CBS-Colorado reported.

Organizers also imagine the space hosting large gatherings, such as powwows, craft marketplaces, language and cultural workshops, and cross-tribal events that strengthen community bonds. The project grew out of recommendations from Colorado’s Truth, Restoration and Education Commission, which has spent years documenting Indigenous history, advocating for restoration, and proposing ways to heal cultural loss.

While planning remains in early stages, supporters see the Cultural Embassy as a symbol of recognition, cultural reclamation, and future growth; a place where Native people can celebrate traditions, learn ancestral skills, and lay roots for the generations to come.