Winter Park Resort made a progressive decision to acknowledge that the resort lies on the ancestral lands of numerous Native American tribes. The resort made the announcement in collaboration with pro skier Connor Ryan.
This is a ground-breaking and progressive movement from Winter Park, and I wouldn’t be surprised if more ski resorts follow suit. Good on them to honor the Native people who were forced to flee that land during the European settlement of North America.
The full statement is copied below from Winter Park’s website:
WINTER PARK RESORT LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATEMENT
Winter Park Resort acknowledges and honors that the land on which we operate today is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Nookhose’iinenno (Northern Arapaho), Tsis tsis’tas (Cheyenne), and Nuuchu (Ute). We recognize and honor these Native Nations, their peoples, and their continued connection, as the original stewards of these lands and waters where we recreate today. We reaffirm and recognize that connection both through our words here and our actions.
Winter Park Resort was founded as a place for all people to renew and refresh through mountain recreation and adventure. While we operate on what is currently designated as U.S. Forest Service land, we accept that our mission must encompass access to this land and include all people regardless of their gender, ancestral backgrounds, race, ethnicity or religion. This acknowledgment is the access and inclusion we must practice in recognizing our institutional and inherited history, responsibility, and commitment to this mandate.
Next 9News did a great piece on the story as well. It’s nice to hear how skier Connor Ryan thinks the statement is a sign of progress for the ski industry as a whole.
Featured Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Winter Park Resort