In an emblematic gathering at Mancos State Park, leaders from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe joined forces with Colorado state officials to mark the passage of a new law that provides tribal members with free access to state parks, as reported by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The law, HB 25-1163, is a bipartisan effort that acknowledges the historical connection between these tribes and the lands encompassing Colorado's 43 state parks.
Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera, state legislators, and officials from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) graced the ceremony, which featured invocations and discussions about the significance of this legislative action, the bill, sponsored by Rep. Katie Stewart and Sen. Cleave Simpson, was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis earlier this year and went into effect at the beginning of August, the bill received praise for recognizing the cultural and spiritual connections of the tribes to these lands and providing actionable measures to ensure their access is unhindered.
"Increasing access to our public lands is so important and this new law gives Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribal members the ability to access them for free," Governor Jared Polis was quoted as saying during the signing of the legislation, as obtained by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. At the ceremony, Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera emphasized that this law is more than free entry to our state parks and noted its role in honoring the Tribes’ deep connection to these ancestral lands. The event also included comments from Tribal Vice Chairman Marvin Pinnecoose and DNR Executive Director Dan Gibbs, who acknowledged the importance of waiving entrance fees as a reparative gesture.
Attendees at the ceremony enjoyed shared meals and park amenities such as fishing with provided poles and DNR revised its policies to include engagement with the tribes, this reform, manifested in HB25-1163, has been enshrined in state statute 33-12-103, which stipulates that tribal members only need present a current tribe-issued photo ID to gain free park entry; illustrating the state's commitment to facilitating easier access for these tribes to their ancestral and sacred sites within Colorado's state parks.
