Historic Auraria Consortium

Land Acknowledgement

We honor and acknowledge that the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) is on the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations. This area was also the site of trade, hunting, gathering, and healing for many other Native Nations: The Lakota, Ute, Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Shoshone, and others.

We recognize the Indigenous peoples as the original stewards of the land, water, plants, and animals who called this place home. As these words of acknowledgment are spoken and heard, the ties that these nations have to their traditional homelands are renewed and reaffirmed. Let us also acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal. We respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land on which we gather. We pay our respect to them and give thanks to all Tribal Nations and the ancestors of this place.

We also want to recognize the community and families of Auraria who lived, worked, and worshiped at Auraria. Auraria, one of the two original settlements in the mid-1800s that later formed greater Denver, Auraria nurtured immigrants, businesses, and families. Many of the oldest buildings of Auraria continue to exist and add beauty and significance to this land.

The decision to use this historically rich location in order to create a permanent home for Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and University of Colorado Denver was a difficult one. Let us honor the sacrifice of Aurarians and acknowledge their contribution in order for public higher education to flourish in Denver.

Mission

The Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC), in collaboration with the Auraria Board of Directors, Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and University of Colorado Denver, has instituted the Historic Auraria Consortium. The purpose of the Consortium is to create and oversee a long-term stewardship plan for the 9th Street Historic Park. The Consortium will include representatives from each of Auraria’s four institutions, as well as collaborators from the Colorado Legislature, History Colorado, Downtown Denver Partnership, Historic Denver, as well as community members representing the Displaced and Indigenous Aurarian communities.

Purpose

The 150-acre downtown campus has a rich and complex history, and thus preservation, development, and activation of 9th Street will be conducted with care and intentionality. To ensure the most vibrant future for the 9th Street Historic Park, we must create a consortium of invested collaborators to develop and implement a strategic stewardship plan.

This group is designed for members to openly engage in complex, honest, and respectful dialogues. We aspire to bringing together those with diverse perspectives, experiences, and perceptions about the space, its functionality, and what it means to the community.

The founding intention of AHEC was to facilitate collaboration among its partners. Fostering this belief of a shared campus, we will work collaboratively to drive a historical accurate telling of the land and its inhabitants. This is a collective goal all partners will participate in and ensures we reconcile, preserve, and honor our campus’ diverse history in these opportunities for exchange.

The topics addressed by the Historic Auraria Consortium and its subcommittees will include 9th Street Historic Park events, planning, preservation, development, as well as community relationship building with Displaced and Indigenous Aurarians, inclusive of any additional impacted groups.

Responsibilities

To carry out its duty and responsibility, the Consortium will:

  • Create a blueprint of the community projects that centers a healing space that honors the ancestors and reconciles the true history of this land.
  • Intentionally weave the authentic history of Auraria into the student and campus experience. Collaborate with partners to identify meaningful ways to honor and mark the history of 9th Street, Displaced Aurarians, and Indigenous communities.
  • Create a mechanism to explore and identify appropriate use of each building of the 9th Street Historic Park, including areas of preservation and improvement.
  • Delegate a team to develop historical archives of the 9th Street Historic Park and each of its buildings, including construction plans, genealogy of previous residents, and more to be housed on the Auraria campus.
  • Conduct outreach and foster collaboration with impacted community members including the Displaced Aurarian, Arapaho and Cheyenne tribal nations, and develop trust and restoration with these communities.
  • Cultivation of museums, art exhibits, and events that are not extracting from or appropriating the culture while simultaneously recognizing the generational work and epistemologies allowing us to convene.
  • Ensure transparent cyclical communication, engage in collaborative partnerships and create shared knowledge between all Auraria institutions and our community partners.
  • Specific Member Representation
  • The Consortium will include two representatives from AHEC and each of its respective constituent institutions. It will also include members and advisors representing the following partner organizations:
  • Displaced Aurarian Community member(s)
  • Indigenous and Native Tribal Representative(s)
  • The Colorado Legislature
  • History Colorado
  • Historic Denver
  • Downtown Denver Partnership

Application and Appointment Process

Those interested in serving on the Historic Auraria Consortium will be asked to submit an online application which can be found on the Auraria Campus website»

Chairpersons

The Consortium will operate under the leadership of AHEC’s Director of Cultural and Community Engagement and Chief Activation Officer.

Membership Term

The term of appointment is generally two years, but this may be reviewed and/or modified annually by the chairpersons. Their successor will be selected in the same manner as the original appointment.

Meetings

Meetings will be held monthly or as the need arises, as determined by the Consortium. Meeting dates and locations will be determined by members best to accomplish the Consortium’s goals and schedules. Electronic meeting notifications will be managed by the Auraria Campus Executive Office.

Annual Reports

The Consortium Chairperson/s will generate an annual community report on the activities and status of the Consortium. The Historic Auraria Consortium will have the opportunity to present to the Auraria Executives Council and Auraria Board of Directors, if appropriate.