Colorado’s rich history is deeply intertwined with the diverse cultures of its Native American tribes. Prominent among these are the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Apache, and Navajo peoples, each contributing uniquely to the region’s heritage.
Ute: The Original Inhabitants of Colorado
The Ute people are considered the oldest continuous residents of Colorado. Migrating eastward from California around the 12th century, they settled across present-day Colorado, Utah, northern New Mexico, Wyoming, and Arizona. The Ute were adept hunter-gatherers, utilizing the state’s diverse landscapes for sustenance. They spoke a dialect of the Uto-Aztecan language, Shoshonean, and their migration is believed to have been an effort to distinguish themselves from other Shoshonean-speaking tribes. Today, the Ute are the only Native American group with reservations in Colorado: the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Reservation.
Cheyenne and Arapaho: Allies of the Plains
The Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, both speakers of Algonquian languages, migrated into the Colorado area in the early 19th century. They inhabited the plains east of the Rocky Mountains and formed strong alliances to defend their territories against other tribes, such as the Comanche, Kiowa, Shoshone, and Ute. The Cheyenne and Arapaho played significant roles in the region’s history, particularly during periods of conflict and negotiation with European settlers and the U.S. government.
Apache: The Nomadic Hunters
The Apache presence in Colorado includes the Jicarilla Apache and Dismal River cultures. Migrating from Canada by 1525 CE, the Jicarilla Apache inhabited areas bounded by the Rio Grande, Pecos River, Arkansas River, and Canadian River, encompassing parts of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. They were hunter-gatherers, primarily hunting buffalo until the 17th century, after which they incorporated smaller game and practiced seasonal agriculture along the upper Arkansas River.
Navajo: The Distant Relatives
The Navajo, or Diné, began migrating into the Colorado River Basin around 1000–1500 CE. Originally hunter-gatherers, they acquired knowledge of farming from the Puebloans and adopted a more sedentary lifestyle over time, making extensive use of irrigation in their settlements. The Navajo gradually displaced Hopi settlements as they expanded into northern Arizona after the 1500s. Navajo Mountain and Rainbow Bridge in the Glen Canyon area came to hold particular religious significance for the Navajo, and the nearby confluence of the Colorado and San Juan River is regarded as the birthplace of clouds and rain.
These tribes, among others, have significantly influenced Colorado’s cultural and historical landscape, enriching the state with their enduring traditions and deep-rooted connections to the land.