Arvada’s newest park was filled with music on July 13. The source of that music was a drum circle, part of the naming celebration for Little Raven Park.
The park, located to the north of Van Bibber Creek Trail and southeast of the intersection of Ward Road and 58th Avenue, is the first in town to honor the area’s indigenous heritage.
The name for the park was proposed by Jennifer Dampf, who wanted to honor Arvada’s history in a more inclusive way. It honors Chief Little Raven, a Southern Arapaho Chief who was known as a peacemaker between local tribes and white settlers.
“When it came time to name this park, we heard loud and clear from the community and from our city council that it was important to choose a name that honors the native and indigenous peoples of this region,” said Arvada’s Director of Vibrant Communities and Neighborhood Enessa Janes.
During the naming celebration, multiple community leaders from the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes spoke about the park’s name.
“We were always peaceful people. We always want it to be one with the land, with nature with ourselves,” said Reggie Wassana, Governor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. “We do appreciate all the city leaders, city managers, the council people for opening up their minds and saying you know what, there were people here before those gold rush people were here and what happened to those people and it’s a shameful past.”
The drum circle played several songs, including the Eagle Song and a song named after Chief Little Raven.
After several speeches, gifts were exchanged between Arvada’s city representatives and tribal representatives and a ribbon was cut in front of the park’s sign. The ribbon was cut by several descendants of Chief Little Raven.