October Program: Indian Tribes of Colorado
October 20 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Monday, October 20, 2025
Doors Open at 6:30 pm
Enjoy complimentary refreshments and browse our partner tables before the program.
Program 7:00-8:30 pm
Southridge Recreation Center
4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch
$5 Donation Suggested at Door for non-HRHS members
Consider applying the Donation to Membership! Click HERE for more info.
John Anderson’s presentation shares the fascinating story of the American Indian Tribes who once claimed part of present-day Colorado as being included in their ancestral homeland. Of the 574 federally recognized American Indian tribes in the United States, over two dozen tribes claim their ancestors once lived in what is today the State of Colorado. While the precise number of tribes is nearly impossible to verify, this presentation will focus primarily on the Ute, Pueblo, Apache, Comanche, Cheyenne, Arapahoe, and to a lesser extent, the Wyandotte Tribal Nations.
The Ute are recognized as indigenous people of Colorado. The Southern Ute and the Ute Mountain Ute are the only two Indian Reservations that remain in the State of Colorado.
This presentation is based in part on research that went into several of John’s books, including Native American Prayer Trees of Colorado and A to Z Colorado’s Nearly Forgotten History 1776-1876. John will have an assortment of his books available and will be signing them. Check or cash only.
ABOUT OUR PRESENTER–JOHN WESLEY ANDERSON
John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is a published author, storyteller and TEDx speaker. He was awarded the Golden Quill Award in 2022 from the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District. Prior to becoming a full-time author, he enjoyed a 30-year law enforcement career, with the Colorado Springs Police Department, followed by 8 years as the elected Sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado. After being term-limited as Sheriff, John retired from public safety and worked homeland security for ten years in the corporate world. He retired from Lockheed Martin in 2012 to launch a small consulting business allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of history, writing and the arts. Although John has traveled around the world, including several adventures on a catamaran sailing the Caribbean, three corporate security assignments into a combat zone on the Horn of Africa and landing on an aircraft carrier at sea in the Pacific Ocean, he remains most fascinated by the rich history and art discovered in his own backyard in the American Southwest.
BOOK SALES AND SIGNING:
This presentation is based in part on research that went into several of John’s books, including Native American Prayer Trees of Colorado and A to Z Colorado’s Nearly Forgotten History 1776-1876. John will have an assortment of his books available and will be signing them. Check or cash only.
