Indigenous Roots LLC offers a Native American living history immersion experience in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Weston, Colorado. Hands-on activities offered sunrise to sunset. Examples are; Hike n\' History, Hunting Tools: (use replicas of artifacts-spear, Hopi rabbit stick, etc), Smudging (includes a smudge bowl & sweetgrass braid), Traditional Food Making: Blue Corn Mush, Wojape, Wild Rice, Buffalo, Pemican, etc , Corn Grinding; Mano & Metate, Native American Games, Winter Count: Use Natural Brushes to Paint Symbols w/Earth Paints on animal hide, Learning to Listen Listening to Learn: The Lightning Tree Hike to Turtle Head Rock, and more. Native American Cultural Immersion Programs Day Programs Suitable for adults and children ages 11-17 years old Indigenous Roots, LLC 14355 County Road 21.6 Weston, CO 81091 Unplug and Unwind in a Primitive Setting on Historic Land All programs take place outside at 8,000 feet elevation. Rain shelter available if needed. Each program is lead by Pamela Good Wind, Education Director at Indigenous Roots. Programs are subject to change. Learning to Listen, Listening to Learn Hike the Turtle Head Rock Trail. We stop frequently along the way for the opportunity to put into practice the cultural observation skills of the natural world. Learn how to listen in a way that brings about a connection to and communication with nature. Featured in this program is an awe-inspiring view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains atop Turtle Head Rock and a stop at the “Lightening Tree”. Bring your own snacks/lunch. Suitable for adults and children ages 11-17 years old Ability Level 1: Motorized 4WD 1/4 mile ride from the parking area to the Tipi Village then walk the trail from there. This 1/2 mile round trip hike is a slight uphill walk. The pace is slow as we stop to learn along the way. Ability Level 2: Hike a 300 foot gain in elevation path for a total round trip of 1 mile. You are given a ‘listening/observation task’ as you walk the path alone or with others in your group. Meet up with Pam at the Tipi Village, discus your observation then finish the walk with Pam. Length of program: Early Morning only: starts at 7 am (cooler part of the day) Ability 1: 2+ hours Ability 2: 3+ hours Cost: Rate $40.00 per adult guest. Children ages 11-17 years old are $5.00 each. Hunter-Gatherers Engage in a reenactment of a group of warriors “hunting” on foot to provide for the village. Using replicas of artifacts, throw two different types of spears with an atlatl and toss a Hopi rabbit stick and South Eastern rabbit stick at a wooden rabbit target. Learn the cultural history behind the hunting tools and discover the cultural mindset the warriors (akíčhita) have with a story about Crazy Horse (Tašúŋka Witkó) as we sit on a Tatáŋka (Buffalo) robe on the ground. Bring your own lunch/snacks. Suitable for adults and children ages 11-17 years old Ability Level 1: No hiking needed. The event takes place nearby the parking area. It is a very short walk with no elevation gain. Length of Program: 2+ hours Cost: Rate $40.00 per adult. Children ages 11-17 years old are $5.00 each. Pemican Making In this hands-on workshop, you will use replicas of artifacts to experience how pemican was made in ancient times. Pemican is a historically important food of indigenous peoples. It is a dried mixture of nutritious protein and fat that could be easily carried on their journeys. Learn about the cultural thinking behind the making of this food. Listen to a story of how the Sičáŋǧu Clan of the Tatáŋka Oyáte (Buffalo Nation/Lakota Sioux) was traveling with this food when the event happened that gave them their clan name. Bring your own lunch/snacks. Suitable for adults and children ages 11-17 years old Ability Level 1: No hiking needed. This event can take place in the Tipi Village ( motorized 4WD 1/4 mile ride to the Village from the parking area) or in the 3 Sisters Outdoor Kitchen (a few steps from the parking area). Length of Program: 2+ hours Cost: Rate $40.00 per adult. Children ages 11-17 years old are $5.00 each. Winter Count Discover how history was recorded on a hide with pictographs. Make and take your own pictograph on a hide using natural charcoal for the sketch and a yucca or horsehair brush for the earth paints. Materials charge included. Bring your own lunch/snacks. Suitable for adults and children ages 11-17 years old Ability Level 1: Motorized 1/4 mile ride from the parking area to the Tipi Village. Ability Level 2: Hike a 300 foot gain in elevation path for 1/4 mile. The pace is slow as we stop to learn along the way. Length of Program: Total time 2-3+ hours: history talk + time to create Cost: Rate $40.00 per person, includes a material cost. Children 11-17 years $20.00 each includes materials cost. The 3 Sisters Garden Side Outdoor Kitchen: Traditional Cooking Methods Class Make your own breakfast, lunch or dinner with mostly traditional foods. Learn traditional methods of food preparation (gender roles, smudge, prayer, intent, generosity) and the cultural understanding behind it. This is a communal cooking adventure! From start to finish, including clean up, plan on at least 3+ hours. Cast-iron cookware is used on a propane stove (Las Animas County has a Fire Ban). We can customize your meal activity. Just let us know what you are interested in. Children are half price! Ability Level 1: The 3 Sisters Garden Side Outdoor Kitchen is located steps away from the parking area under a rain canopy. Always Gluten Free. Organic & local when available. Eat out of gourd bowls with buffalo horn spoons or gourd spoons. Breakfast *arrive by 8 am this is a 2 + hour activity 1. “Blue Corn Mush (Navajo) w/fresh berries on the side” cost: $25.00 per person A warm hearty grain filled breakfast with a touch of Choke Cherry or other honey. While waiting for the mush to be done cooking try using a replica of an artifact to experience the ancient way to stone grind blue corn. Hear the ancient origins of corn. Listen to a traditional story about the sacredness of corn and the harmony it creates when grown as the “3 Sisters”. 2. “Ojibwe Wild Rice (Manoomin) w/real maple syrup + berries” cost: $ 25.00 per person Hand harvested cedar wood parched Manoomin ‘from canoe to you’ from the Leech Lake Rez in Minnesota. Did you know wild rice is not really rice, but a seed? Learn how rice is hand harvested and the cultural traditions used for harvest. Examine a replica of an artifact used in the processing of rice. 3. “3 Grain Porridge with Rez Honey” cost: $25.00 per person Hearty ancient grains of quinoa, millet, amaranth simmered in Almond or Coconut milk along with a touch of honey. Toppings include fresh berries and a variety of nuts such as walnuts, pecans, slivered almonds. Enjoy the morning sounds of nature! While the porridge is simmering, sit and connect with nature. What is speaking to you in nature today? What did nature say to you? Artistic? Bring your sketch pad and do some drawing. Or opt for some local history information. Perhaps try your hand at using replicas of hunting tools such as a Hopi Rabbit Stick, a spear, an atlatl. Have you wondered how did indigenous folks lived alongside and with wildlife? Then let me tell you a story. Lunch *arrive by 9 am if making muffins otherwise arrive by 11 am (a 2+ hour activity) 1. “3 Sisters Salad” cost: $25.00 per person This delicious salad includes black beans, corn, squash, quinoa, bell pepper, tomatoes, jicama, onion, garlic, with a Cranberry Coriander Cilantro Vinaigrette dressing. Learn the Lakota tradition of food preparation and the ritual of giving back to the spirits before we eat. Pair this salad up with Ancient Origins Maize Muffins (need a sunny day). *Sun Kissed Ancient Origins Maize Muffins Solar baking! Begin the making and baking of these sun-kissed muffins by 9 am and they will be ready to munch with your lunch salad. Served with a drizzle of Rez honey. Contains dairy, eggs, and oat/almond/coconut flour. Bake time: 1-1.5 hours. *Need a sunny day for these moist muffins. Each batch makes about 12. You get the whole batch! Take some home. Freezes well. cost: $20.00 per batch Add a ready-made Ancient Origins Maize Muffin with Choke Cherry Honey drizzle for $2.00 each While the muffins are baking, use a replica of an artifact to grind blue corn as in ancient times. Sit on a Buffalo robe while listening about some of the local indigenous histories in this area. Dinner * arrive by 5 pm (a 3-hour activity) A customer favorite is the Ancient Origins Maize Muffin which goes well with any of these meals. Order a batch to be included! Your choice of “Hey, add one or two muffins to my meal.” and/or “I’d love to take a package of 4 or 8 to go.” One muffin: $2.00 To Go: Package of 4: $8.00 or Package of 8: $14.00 A muffin with your meal includes Choke Cherry Honey drizzle. You won’t be disappointed! 1. “3 Sisters Sauté over White Earth Ojibwe Rez Wild Rice” w/ Wojape (warm berries) Hand-harvested wild rice, corn, squash, green beans cost: $30.00 per person Hand harvested cedar wood parched Manoomin ‘from canoe to you’ from the Leech Lake Rez in Minnesota. Did you know wild rice is not really rice, but a seed? Learn how rice is hand harvested and the cultural traditions used for harvest. Examine a replica of an artifact used in the processing of rice. 2. “Blue Corn Soup” cost: $30.00 per person A perfect combination of Fall harvest foods: squash, corn, beans, tomatoes. While the soup is simmering let’s use a replica of an artifact to grind blue corn the ancient way. Hear about the origin of corn. The Hopi cultivated blue corn. Try your hand at throwing a replica of a Hopi rabbit stick. Sit on a Buffalo robe while listening about some of the local indigenous histories in this area. 3. “Buffalo (Tatáŋka)” *based on availability cost: $35.00 per person Buffalo in its own slow roasted broth with squash, corn on the cob, green beans. This delightful dish takes some time to make. Plan on hanging around the 3 Sisters Garden Side Outdoor Kitchen to keep an eye on the soup pot. How about some oral traditions of storytelling while you wait? The White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman or the The creation story of the Buffalo People (Sioux) can bring a deeper understanding of indigenous culture. Is the meal not quite ready? Let’s talk about local indigenous history and learn about the indigenous peoples who lived in the surrounding area. Or try your hand at using some replicas of a spear, atlatl, Hopi rabbit stick, South Eastern rabbit stick. Unlimited drinks included with all meals: your choice of bottled water, herbal tea, coffee, or hot chocolate All the Particulars All programs take place outside. Rain shelter available if needed. Each program is lead by Pamela Good Wind Education Director at Indigenous Roots. Suitable for adults and children ages 11-17 years old Reservation Required: Reserve a program at least 7 days in advance or more with a 50% deposit paid through the website. We create a customized event reservation date on our website for your deposit. No refunds (we purchase materials/food prior to your arrival). We use Square for the remainder of the payment onsite. Gratuities are welcome! Payment: Deposit required through the website and then we use Square mobile card reader for remainder of payment when you arrive: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Android Pay, UnionPay, Discover, American Express, Master Card, Visa. Included: snake gaiters for ages 11 years -adult, CleanWaste bathroom system available at Tipi Village & 3 Sisters Garden Side Outdoor Kitchen, cooling neck towel on hot days, Liability/Photo Waiver* You Bring a water bottle, backpack, walking stick if desired, your own lunch/snack if desired unless doing the Traditional Cooking Methods class, mandatory ankle high leather or Cordura nylon hiking boots are an extremely important item that matches up nicely with the snake gaiters for the best protection, rain gear, dress for the weather, an open mind with a willingness to immerse into an indigenous culture Optional: Turtle Head Rock Trail is a great place to munch your lunch once we reach the rock outcropping. Pack It In Pack It Out. Undeveloped land Bathroom system: cleanwaste.com available at the 3 Sisters Garden Side OutdoorKitchen & at the Tipi Village Contact Pamela Good Wind: indigenousroots.co@gmail.com 720-598-2828 *You will need to sign a Liability Waiver and Photo Waiver