Denver plans begin for first American Indian Cultural Embassy

Planning is underway in Denver for what organizers say would be the first American Indian Cultural Embassy in the United States, according to CBS Colorado. Funding for the project was approved by voters through the Vibrant Denver Bond measure. City officials are considering First Creek Open Space in northeast Denver as a potential site.

Rick Williams, president of People of the Sacred Land, said the vision is to create a welcoming place for Native people who were historically displaced from Colorado. Denver City Council member Stacie Gilmore said $20 million from the bond will support design and construction, with goals that include cultural preservation, economic development and education, according to CBS Colorado.

The concept for the embassy emerged from recommendations by the Truth, Restoration, and Education Commission, a group of American Indian leaders studying Native history in Colorado. City officials said planning is in early stages and will involve ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities.