Arapaho Tribe

Most of the other Arapaho tribe members have already migrated to the panhandle of Oklahoma and elsewhere in the west since the Indian wars of the 1860s, but her chief decided to stay despite pressure from the white man. Thanks to Chief Black Coal, the Arapaho had been at peace for several years and stayed out of the local war with the Sioux in 1876.

Their small tribe (about 50 people, and only 12 are warriors) are in a very sacred area of hills on the river floodplain where it’s said that the nature spirits can be heard. There is a site near there camp where the spirits are heard the strongest, and they often pray there. However, many left their local tribe to be guides for white men since the tribe was quite poor. Some have brought money back, but many never returned. Pressures have mounted again in the past few years for them to leave as the Denver area is expanding toward their region, with the town of Brighton springing up just a few miles south, and they have been resistant. Unfortunately, their chief has been ill for the last year and their medicine woman has been caring for him constantly. It’s put additional strain on the tribe. Their strongest warrior is not yet ready to lead, so they are hoping that the chief will be able to help them through this situation.

Members: Chief Yellow Eagle, Hayeta, Howi, Kangee, Tocho, Kele, Skah

Related: Gray Owl, Harold Mengs, Charles Torley