County Appoints Native American-American Indian Relations Manager

• Karen Wilde is Boulder County's first Native American-American Indian Relations Manager.
• Online resources, including book lists and resources for teachers, are available.
• To receive this information in another language, please email commissioners@bouldercounty.gov.

Boulder County, Colo. - The Boulder County Commissioners have proclaimed November as Native American Heritage Month in Boulder County. Language evolves with us as we lean into our journey of identity, and Boulder County acknowledges that residents of Boulder County might identify as Native American, American Indian, Indigenous, and as a citizen of their tribal nation.

Native Americans existed on the lands now called the United States since time immemorial and continue to thrive today. Although November highlights Native Americans, Native Americans recognize every day as their heritage, and their traditions continue every day. In November, we urge residents to honor the culture and achievements of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and all Indigenous cultures.

Boulder County and the State of Colorado have been the original homelands of many different tribes including the Northern Arapaho of Wyoming, the Northern Cheyenne of Montana, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Kiowa Tribe, the Comanche, the Apache, and the Eastern Shoshone.

Boulder County’s Native American-American Indian Relations Manager

Karen Wilde has joined Boulder County’s Office of the County Administrator as the county’s first Native American-American Indian Relations Manager. Karen’s appointment to this full-time, permanent position is a crucial step in Boulder County’s journey to move from land acknowledgement to meaningful action in the county’s work with American Indian, Native American, Native Alaskan and Native Hawai’ian peoples.

“We are delighted to welcome Karen Wilde as Boulder County’s first Native American-American Indian Relations Manager,” said Commissioner Marta Loachamin. “Karen brings years of valuable experience to this role that will help Boulder County move forward with meaningful work with tribes whose original homelands were in Boulder County. Thank you to all of the Boulder County staff, community members, and folks from around our region who helped support this recruitment process.”

“Taking on this new assignment with Boulder County allows me the opportunity to continue my life's work in collaboration with tribal nations, peoples, and governmental colleagues who are committed to progress,” said Karen.

Karen’s career includes years of experience in Native American/American Indian relations, including a position as Tribal Liaison for the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site as part of the National Park Service (NPS) and then Tribal Relations Specialist for the US Forest Service at Mark Twain National Forest. Her NPS work included participation in the Intermountain Region writing team for the draft management guidance on Sacred Sites and coordination with park management on actively engaging with the Tribes of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, both Northern and Southern. She was Co-Chair of the service-wide American Indian volunteer employee group, Council for Indigenous Relevancy, Communication, Leadership and Excellence (CIRCLE), and is a lifetime member of Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE). Her community involvement includes several gubernatorial appointments in Colorado. Karen is a first-generation college graduate, holds a paralegal certificate, and achieved a Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law (MJIL). She is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a proud citizen of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma.

Resources

Event: City of Longmont’s Native American Heritage Month Celebration, Nov. 8

Sand Creek Massacre Foundation’s Resources for Educators

First Nations Development Institute’s Recommended Book List

National Indian Education Association Online Resources

The following books are available in libraries throughout Boulder County and to borrow as e-books using a library card:

Native American Heritage Month Books for Youth

Native American Heritage Month Books for Adults

The History Colorado website includes online resources to learn about Native American/American Indians in Colorado.

The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian has online exhibits and educational resources.

Identity and Heritage Months

At the beginning of February, the Boulder County Commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to heritage and identity months. The commissioners emphasized that Boulder County will continue to celebrate the contributions of the diverse groups that make our county strong, successful, and resilient – while acknowledging that the history of these groups is American history and includes both successes and tragedies.

As outlined in the commissioners’ Proclamation Recognizing 2025 Heritage and Identity Months in Boulder County, heritage months recognize and celebrate the contributions of underrepresented groups, and help people understand their own identities. They enable us to honor the achievements and contributions of groups whose histories are often absent from traditional narratives of U.S. history or misrepresented altogether.

Heritage and identity-based months teach people about the histories and cultures of different groups, help people understand their own cultures and identities, encourage people to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Boulder County, Colorado, and the United States, and prompt people to reflect on past struggles and successes.

• Visit the County Commissioners' webpage
• View the Commissioners' Meeting Documents and Records
• Email the Board of County Commissioners

Americans with Disabilities Act Notice

Special Assistance
Boulder County wants to ensure that everyone has equal access to our programs, activities, and services. To request an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accommodation, please email the ADA Coordinator, or call 303-441-1386. Submit your request as early as possible, and no later than two business days before the event. Boulder County's ADA Policy