Dear Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute Tribal community,
It is my great pleasure to invite you to attend Ute Day at the Capitol on Friday, March 15. This day is an annual event which celebrates and honors the invaluable contributions that the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe have made to the State of Colorado. This is one of my favorite events of the year, and I am so excited to celebrate with you all.
The day will kick off with breakfast and an opening ceremony, featuring the Yellow Jacket Singers, Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Color Guard, Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute Royalty, and remarks from Chairman Melvin J. Baker and Chairman Manuel Heart, along with a proclamation from Governor Jared Polis.
Following the ceremony, the Chairmen will address the General Assembly in their annual State of the Tribes address. The Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs staff along with representatives of the two Ute Tribes with jurisdiction in Colorado have prepared activities for attendees, including two tours of the Capitol, information tables on the various state agencies, and free admission to History Colorado. In the afternoon, you are invited to participate in topic discussions at the Carriage House, located at the Governor’s Mansion. Following Ute Day at the Capitol, I hope you also take some time to attend the Denver March Powwow that will be taking place at the Denver Coliseum from Friday, March 15 – Sunday, March 17.
Ute Day at the Capitol is an impactful day of the year where we can truly celebrate the Ute tribes and the unique government-to-government relationships that we share. I hope you and your families can join us to hear the heartbeat of the drum in the Capitol rotunda along with our various additional events.
For more information or additional questions, please contact CCIA’s Project Coordinator/Executive Assistant Meaghan Aylward at meaghan.aylward@state.co.us or 720-402-4206.
Respectfully,
Dianne Primavera, Lt. Governor of Colorado
Chair, Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs
We’re looking forward to seeing you for Ute Day at the Capitol! This day will be full of activities and events to honor and celebrate the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
For Attendees: This “Know Before You Go” letter will help you prepare for the event.
Directions and Parking: The Colorado State Capitol is located at 200 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80203.
Street parking is available on a first come-first serve basis. Meters along Grant St. are reserved during the legislative session.
Paid parking is available at the following locations:
- 1438 Grant St. $20/all day
- 175 E 16th Ave. $17/all day
- 266 E. 16th Ave. $15/all day
Agenda
- 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM: Arrival to the State Capitol
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Opening Ceremony/Speaking Program- West Steps 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Information tables- West Foyer, Rotunda
- 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: State of the Tribes Address
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Capitol Tour with State Patrol- North Foyer 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM: Capitol Tour with Visitor’s Center
- 1:45 PM – 3:15 PM: Topic Discussions- Carriage House, Governor’s Mansion
Upon arrival: Once you arrive at the Capitol, please enter on the North Side. From there, you will be directed to the West Steps where the opening program will take place. Breakfast will be provided, along with coffee and water.
Activities/Things to do: You may attend the State of the Tribes’ Address in the House Chambers. A team member will escort guests to the gallery seating to observe the address at 9:30 AM. The address is expected to go until 10:30 AM.
During the opening ceremony, sign up sheets will be available for groups to tour the State Capitol. There will be two tours provided;
- State Patrol Tour- 11:00 AM in the North Foyer
o Attendees will be given a tour by a member of Colorado State Patrol. Sights will include a trip to the subbasement, extensive tour of the Capitol building, and a trip to the Dome. This tour is not ADA-accessible, will require walking, and multiple flights of stairs.
o Limited to 20 people
- Capitol Tour with Visitor’s Center- 11:15 AM in the North Foyer
o Attendees will be given a tour by a member of the Capitol Tours Group. The first round will include a trip to the Dome, which is not ADA accessible. The group will return for the rest of the tour, which allows for the use of elevators.
o Limited to 30 people
Additionally, attendees can collect tickets to the History Colorado Center, which grants free admission for the day. Tickets will be available during breakfast from volunteers.
- History Colorado Center: 1200 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
o Travel: 10 minute walk or a 3 minute drive.
o Parking is available at 1268 Lincoln St. or on meters.
We also invite you to participate in topic discussions with state staff and Tribal Council members.
- Topic discussions- 1:45 PM – 3:15 PM
- Topics: Elders and Youth Partnerships, and Leveraging State-Tribal Partnerships for Youth
o Carriage House at the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion
■ 400 E 8th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
■ Free parking is available across the street, at northwest corner of 8th and Logan St.
Attire: Please wear comfortable shoes for walking. The opening ceremony will take place outside in the shade, so please dress appropriately for the weather.