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August 2020

“Lifting Voices from the Shadows” – Fay Soldier Wolf interview

By News, Video

The “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” project is an opportunity for Northern Arapaho women, like Fay Soldier Wolf featured in this video, to share their personal experiences with voting, both past and present.

The project is funded by a “Women in Parks Innovation and Impact” grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF). The goal of the grant “is to support projects and programs that help the NPS share a more comprehensive American narrative that includes the voices of women.” In particular, the initiative is meant to raise awareness of the 19th Amendment’s centennial this year and to “highlight stories of women who continue to shape the world.” However, Indigenous women did not gain the right to vote in 1920. It was not until the Snyder Act passed in 1924 that Indigenous Americans earned their full U.S. citizenship, though some states continued to deny Indigenous Americans their enfranchisement as late as 1962.

Learn more about the Poudre Heritage Alliance and the “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” project at: https://poudreheritage.org/lifting-voices/ 

Press Release: To Commemorate the Centennial of the 19th Amendment, Poudre Heritage Alliance Receives Women in Parks Grant from the National Park Foundation

By News

NEWS RELEASE

August 18, 2020

For immediate release; for more information, contact:

 

Megan Maiolo-Heath, Communications Coordinator

Poudre Heritage Alliance

970.295.4851

communications@poudreheritage.org

 

 To Commemorate the Centennial of the 19th Amendment, Poudre Heritage Alliance Receives Women in Parks Grant from the National Park Foundation

 

[Fort Collins, CO] (August 18, 2020) – To commemorate the centennial of the 19th amendment, which prohibited states from denying the vote on the basis of sex, and recognize centuries of under recognized sacrifices and contributions to the U.S. made by women, including Black women, Indigenous women and all women of color, the National Park Foundation (NPF) announced more than 20 inaugural grants through its Women in Parks initiative. These grants will fund projects highlighting women’s stories at national parks across the country, including “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” oral history project with women from the Northern Arapaho Tribe. You can view a complete list of NPF-funded projects here.

 

The Poudre Heritage Alliance’s “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” project is recording oral histories from Northern Arapaho women to create online content like short educational videos and future programming like guided walks, talks and special events. This includes a recent webinar that acknowledges what citizenship means for Indigenous women who were not among the women granted the right to vote through the 19th Amendment and how that still resonates today.

 

“We have women here who are willing to share their stories, share their information, share their experiences and their perspectives,” said Yufna Soldier Wolf, Northern Arapaho tribal historian and partner on the Lifting Voices project. “I don’t think this has ever done before for any of the women on the reservation.”

 

New research released by NPF shows a gap in understanding women in U.S. history still exists. This new study found that 64 percent of the American public wish they knew more about women in U.S. history.

 

Communities across the country are interested in closing this gap, as 62 percent of those surveyed think it is extremely or very important for people to learn about women in U.S. history. Seventy-four percent indicated that it is extremely or very important that national parks connect people to history.

 

“The National Park Service offers unique opportunities to learn about women’s important contributions and how even their silent and diverse everyday lives formed the foundations of America,” said National Park Service Chief Historian Dr. Turkiya Lowe. “Parks are spaces to ask complex questions about the history of the United States, including, ‘Did all women obtain full voting rights after the passage of the 19th amendment?’ ‘And, if not, which women and where?’”

 

The Women in Parks grants support a range of projects that will highlight the contributions women have made to our country and the role they continue to play in our ever-evolving narrative.

 

“Every park has a connection to women that can inspire current and future generations,” said NPF President and CEO Will Shafroth. “The National Park Foundation and our donors, who played a key role in inspiring the launch of our Women in Parks initiative last year, are thrilled to make stories about women’s contributions to our country, past and present, accessible to all people through parks and online.”

 

NPF’s Women in Parks initiative is inspired by the National Park Service’s commemoration for the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the bipartisan Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission (S.847). Launched in June 2019, Women in Parks is part of the NPF’s ongoing efforts to help expand the stories and perspectives shared through national parks. The initiative will continue throughout 2020 and beyond.

 

“The centennial of the 19th Amendment is an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen knowledge, research and outreach efforts related to the impact of women in all aspects of U.S. history,” said Margaret Everson, Counselor to the Secretary, exercising the delegated authority of the National Park Service Director. “This partnership will enable national parks to tell a more complete and compelling story of the history of our nation.”

 

From local philanthropic organizations and friends groups, to community-based organizations, national park and program partners are key collaborators in preserving women’s history and making it accessible to all people. In addition, just like the parks themselves, every partner group has a connection to women.

 

Individuals, foundations, and companies can support the National Park Foundation’s efforts to ensure that women’s history in the United States is shared, preserved, and leveraged to inspire current and future generations by visiting the NPF website.

 

ABOUT THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA AND THE POUDRE HERITAGE ALLIANCE

 

The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (CALA), a 45-mile stretch of the Lower Poudre River, tells the story of the river where Western Water Law took shape and how the river still informs the use of water throughout the arid West today.  CALA’s 501(c)3 nonprofit managing entity – the Poudre Heritage Alliance – PROMOTES a variety of historical and cultural opportunities; ENGAGES people in their river corridor; and INSPIRES learning, preservation, and stewardship. Find out more at:  https://poudreheritage.org/

 

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION

The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts and connect all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.

 

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Poudre RiverFest Going Virtual – Aug 24-29, 2020

By News

Join us for the VIRTUAL Poudre RiverFest!

You’re invited to virtually experience and celebrate the Cache la Poudre River during the Poudre RiverFest starting Monday, August 24th thru Saturday, August 29th. This six-day event will feature a variety of programming including Family Fun activities, Lunch and Learn sessions, Explore the Poudre River content and streamed Live Entertainment every day.

Poudre RiverFest is a free, family-friendly festival that celebrates the Poudre River, promotes restoration, and educates people about our river corridor, an important natural resource in our community. The festival features hands-on activities for children and adults to explore the role of the river as an important habitat for wildlife, a lively recreation area, and a source for clean drinking water.

Visit our virtual programming to create your own customized Poudre RiverFest calendar.

Proceeds from the Poudre RiverFest go to support restoration projects on the Cache la Poudre River. Join us in our restoration mission by donating today!

 

Festival organizers include:

Happy National Women’s Suffrage Month!

By News

Photo: Yufna Soldier Wolf, member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and tribal historian, is partnering with the Poudre Heritage Alliance to help collect oral histories from Northern Arapaho women.

Happy National Women’s Suffrage Month! August 2020 marks 100 years since the 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote. However, not all women received the right to vote in 1920. It was not until the Snyder Act passed in 1924 that Indigenous women earned their full U.S. citizenship, though some states continued to deny Indigenous Americans their enfranchisement as late as 1962.

Click here to see the full calendar of events from the Women’s Vote Centennial.

The Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA), nonprofit managing entity of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (CALA), is currently collaborating with Colorado State University’s Native American Cultural Center, the National Heritage Areas Program, and the Northern Arapaho tribe to compile stories from Northern Arapaho women.

The Northern Arapaho lived in the Cache la Poudre River basin for centuries before the United States military forcibly removed the tribe to Wyoming in the 1870s. It is vital that Northern Colorado communities learn the stories of the people whose historic and spiritual homeland is the Cache la Poudre River. Doing so can help people properly understand the complicated history and ecology of the region.

The involved organizations hope that the “Lifting Voices from the Shadows” project will strengthen partnerships, build the PHA’s education and interpretation program, and connect people to their collective Poudre River heritage.

Other resources:

Gertrude Simmons Bonnin (Zitkala-Ša): Advocate for the “Indian Vote” by Cathleen D. Cahill

Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin – Profile by the National Park Service

From Parlors to Polling Places: Women’s Suffrage in Fort Collins – Research report and virtual walking tour from the City of Fort Collins Historic Preservation Office