A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the establishment of Colorado American Indian
Page 1, Line 102Recognition Day as an observed state holiday.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill designates Colorado American Indian Recognition Day as an observed, but not a legal, state holiday.
Page 1, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 1SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 2(a) Colorado has the responsibility to cultivate a community that
Page 2, Line 3honors and respects the diverse history of the lands making up the state
Page 2, Line 4by recognizing the history and contributions of the Nuuchiu (Ute) people
Page 2, Line 5who have called this land home since time immemorial, as they have no
Page 2, Line 6migration story, and members of other federally recognized tribes whose ancestors have historical ties to this state;
Page 2, Line 7(b) Colorado is the ancestral homeland of the Southern Ute Indian
Page 2, Line 8Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the two federally recognized tribes
Page 2, Line 9having reservations within the exterior boundaries of the state. In
Page 2, Line 10addition, it has historical ties to 46 other federally recognized tribal
Page 2, Line 11nations, including the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Apache, Comanche, and
Page 2, Line 12Kiowa. The state recognizes their history, cultural contributions, and sovereignty.
Page 2, Line 13(c) Colorado recognizes that 48 American Indian nations,
Page 2, Line 14including the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe,
Page 2, Line 15have demonstrated resilience and continue to thrive, making significant
Page 2, Line 16cultural, social, and economic contributions to the state. Their histories,
Page 2, Line 17traditions, and contemporary achievements are integral to Colorado's identity.
Page 2, Line 18(d) Colorado further understands that recognizing and celebrating
Page 2, Line 19the histories and contributions of American Indian nations with ancestral
Page 2, Line 20and, with respect to the Ute tribes, legal ties to Colorado is essential to fostering education, cultural awareness, and reconciliation;
Page 2, Line 21(e) In addition to celebrating the myriad ways in which American
Page 2, Line 22Indians have and continue to meaningfully contribute to the state,
Page 3, Line 1Colorado also acknowledges the history of genocide, forced removal, and
Page 3, Line 2systemic discrimination that American Indian nations have endured, in
Page 3, Line 3Colorado and throughout the United States, the forced placement onto
Page 3, Line 4reservations, broken treaties, and the loss of traditional lands and cultural practices;
Page 3, Line 5(f) Specifically, Colorado recognizes the Battle of Milk Creek, in
Page 3, Line 6which Major Thomas Thornburgh and his federal cavalry violated the Ute
Page 3, Line 7Treaty of 1868 by crossing the Ute reservation. The Ute Indians defended
Page 3, Line 8their sovereignty and held off the cavalry for 6 days, resulting in the death
Page 3, Line 9of 24 Utes. The unlawful attack by Major Thornburgh led to the relocation of the Ute tribes to their present reservations.
Page 3, Line 10(g) Colorado further recognizes the Beaver Creek Massacre of
Page 3, Line 111885 in which Colorado residents killed 6 adults and children who were
Page 3, Line 12members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and wounded 2 others. They
Page 3, Line 13were seeking to hunt for food to feed their families. The Ute families
Page 3, Line 14were starving because the federal government had failed to provide rations in accordance with its treaty obligations.
Page 3, Line 15(h) Colorado also recognizes the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864,
Page 3, Line 16in which over 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho men, women, and children
Page 3, Line 17were brutally murdered by the 1st Colorado Infantry Regiment of Volunteers (US) and 3rd Regiment of Colorado Cavalry Volunteers (US);
Page 3, Line 18(i) These acts of violence represent some of the darkest moments
Page 3, Line 19in the state's history, and their impact continues to be felt by American Indian communities today;
Page 3, Line 20(j) Finally, Colorado acknowledges other critical incidents in the
Page 3, Line 21state's history that have inflicted historical and ongoing trauma upon
Page 3, Line 22American Indian nations, including the removal of children to federal
Page 4, Line 1Indian boarding schools, the suppression of language and cultural
Page 4, Line 2practices, and other policies aimed at erasing American Indian identities; and
Page 4, Line 3(k) Therefore, the general assembly declares the designation of a
Page 4, Line 4state holiday to honor and celebrate the histories, cultures, and
Page 4, Line 5contributions of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute
Page 4, Line 6Tribe, and all American Indian nations with historic ties to Colorado. This
Page 4, Line 7holiday will serve as an opportunity for education, recognition,
Page 4, Line 8remembrance, celebration, and appreciation, ensuring that the stories,
Page 4, Line 9legacies, and sovereignty of these nations remain an integral part of Colorado's past, present, and future.
Page 4, Line 10SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-11-119 as follows:
Page 4, Line 1124-11-119. Colorado American Indian Recognition Day.The
Page 4, Line 12second Monday of October in each year is known as "Colorado
Page 4, Line 13American Indian Recognition Day". Appropriate observance may
Page 4, Line 14be held by the public and in all public schools of the state to
Page 4, Line 15recognize the thriving culture, acknowledge the resilience and
Page 4, Line 16plight, and celebrate the contributions of American Indians and
Page 4, Line 17Colorado's longest continuous residents, the Ute people, and
Page 4, Line 18their sovereign nations, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
Page 4, Line 19SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 4, Line 20takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 4, Line 21ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 4, Line 22that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 4, Line 23of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 5, Line 1act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 5, Line 2effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 5, Line 3November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.