Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration on Pikes Peak
The city of Colorado Springs hosted its third Indigenous Peoples Day Sunrise Celebration, which was also the largest to date.
The event featured a ceremonial sunrise blessing on top of Pikes Peak, a rare occasion when the city opens the summit before sunrise.
As part of the celebration, interpretive signs were unveiled inside the Pikes Peak Summit House, highlighting the native language names for the peak, including "T'áiñk'òp" or "White Mountain" in the Kiowa language.
"It's kind of funny when you read these invitations," said Hill, a Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Kiowa tribe. "It says, invited to the mountain blessing, kind of like they expect us to come and bless this mountain. Can't bless the mountain” — it’s already considered a sacred place.
The event aimed to honor and recognize the indigenous peoples' connection to the land and their cultural heritage.
Author's summary: Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated on Pikes Peak with a ceremonial blessing.