Our History from the perspective of Deanne Vitrac-Kessler, Founder + Executive Director

In 2005, our founder, Deanne Vitrac-Kessler, met Northern Ute elder Loya Arrum-Cesspooch, who came to Sunlight Ski Resort with her family to perform a pow-wow-style dancing and drumming exhibition. At Loya Cesspooch's request and with her support, we formed the Aspen Ute Foundation to bring the Indigenous presence back to the Roaring Fork Valley and help facilitate the Utes' reconnection to their ancestral lands.

To promote the Indigenous culture and rich traditional ways, we brought annual dancing and drumming exhibitions to downtown Aspen, consisting of groups of about 25 tribal members in their full regalia. As a cultural exchange, all participants were given the opportunity to experience skiing/snowboarding or just riding the gondola. Our programs provide a chance for Native Americans to come off the Reservations and experience the healthy and beautiful lifestyle that our mountain town offers. We have a partnership with Aspen Skiing Company which graciously provides a certain number of lift tickets as well as rentals for free.

2012-2017 When Loya could not come anymore due to health issues, Roland O. McCook – Chief Ah Tave – former Chairman of the Northern Ute Tribe, stepped in to continue Loya’s legacy. Under the guidance of Roland McCook, we expanded the programs to include other tribes to showcase the different dance and drum styles proper to each Native Nation. In October 2017, led by Councilman Bert Myrin, the Aspen Ute Foundation, represented by Roland McCook and Deanne petitioned the City of Aspen to pass a resolution replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day. It was unanimously adopted.

2017-2019 In 2018, inspired by then Woody Creek resident Anuk Beautiful Bald Eagle (Lakota member from Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, SD) and with the support of the City of Aspen, we created the first Native American Indian Film Festival in Aspen - Shining Mountains Film Festival to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the passing of this resolution. The 2-day event took place at the iconic Wheeler Opera House and was a wonderful success. Its goal is to give Indigenous Peoples a platform to tell their stories and recount history from their standpoint. Shining Mountains Film Festival is now an annual event.

In 2019, Anuk Bald Eagle and Deanne organized the first-ever full-blown indoor PowWow in Aspen. We hosted over 120 members from many different tribes with 4 drum groups, dance competitors, and vendors. We sadly canceled 2020/2021 events due to the pandemic. However, we established emergency programs on the Lakota Reservations with the delivery of food, clothes, and necessary items to help tribal members, mainly elders, pay bills. We also started to sponsor a Native youth equine therapy ride that continues today.

2020/2021 The Foundation shifted towards more inclusive and broader programs that welcome and involve all Native Tribes of Turtle Island (known to most as America). Thus, the board members voted to change the name to ASPEN INDIGENOUS FOUNDATION (AIF). We obtained our 501(c)3 non-profit status with IRS.

2022-24 The Shining Mountains Film Festival resumed at the Wheeler Opera House, as did the Pow Wows at Aspen High School. With the support of Diane Godfrey (AHS student Coordinator), an AIF High School Students’ Club was born. The high schoolers involved have been very active with the running of the Pow Wows. In 2023 and 2024, they personally raised enough funds to provide 50 laptops to underprivileged Native youth. AIF is also working with 2 Colorado Correctional facilities to help Native inmates build Sweat Lodges for the pursuit of their spiritual ways. Emphasis has been put on the Youth Victory Ride, which takes place every year (June 20-25) in Montana and turns out to be an amazing healing program for the Reservation’s kids.