Broomfield, Colorado, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes headquartered in Concho, Okla., are now Sister Cities! On Saturday, March 22, our communities held a joint recognition and signing ceremony in downtown Denver, marking our partnership as only the second of its kind between a U.S. community and a sovereign Native nation within U.S. boundaries. About 200 people were in attendance from both Oklahoma and Colorado to witness the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes’ Governor Reggie Wassana and Broomfield’s mayor Guyleen Castriotta sign our Sister Cities document, which was celebrated by a special “hand talk” greeting to Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes elders by Broomfielders, and songs led by O.T. Sankey and Cheyenne and Arapaho drum circle members.
It was my honor and privilege to help organize the ceremony, with the help of my great Broomfield Sister Cities colleagues Andrea Margheim-Minnich, Jessica Goldstrohm, Dave Allison and Tim Harmos, and leaders and staff from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, including Chris Roman Nose, Fred & Mary Mosqueda, and Gordon Yellowman. The event was noted by the City and County of Broomfield and Cheyene and Arapaho TV, and appeared on the front page of the April 15 issue of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune.
