Nov. 1, 2024

Dear Team DPS,

November is National Native American Heritage Month. While this celebration continues throughout the year, November is the specific month dedicated to the beauty of our First Nations cultures. While the history of tribal nations makes us aware of many painful and complex stories, we recognize the tremendous positive accomplishments, contributions and cultures of our Native peoples. From astronauts to actresses, physicists and educators, Native people have been and continue to be leaders and a source of inspiration for everyone.

Locally, Native peoples have a unique and notable history that has impacted the development of the Front Range over the centuries. It is also important that we ground ourselves in the DPS Land Acknowledgement, which was written by Dr. Tink Tinker in collaboration with our Native American Culture and Education (NACE) team in 2021.

The DPS community acknowledges our Indigenous relatives who have lived in and cared for this ancient Land from time immemorial. We acknowledge the close relationship that Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute and Natives of other tribal Nations continue to have with the waters, plants, and all moving things that call this Land home. We pledge our respect for those enduring Indigenous connections to the place we now call Colorado.

To our students and employees from Tribal Nations, thank you for enriching the DPS community with your presence, dedication and unique perspectives each day.

Stay tuned to the DPS social media pages and Our DPS Weekly for National Native American Heritage Month stories of students and staff for the rest of November.

In collaboration,

Dr. Alex Marrero
Superintendent