Dona Bollard, photographer and winner of the 2024 Boulder Art Fest 2D Art Award, has shared some of her finest and most interesting historical pictures with AboutBoulder and our readers. We are blessed and grateful! Along with her museum photographs of the blood descendant of Chief Niwot, Eldred Poisal, she has shared the history of the genetic link from Left Hand to Eldred, as well as a letter from Eldred. My gratitude is immense!

The “Face” of Chief Niwot: Eldred Poisal, “Squash Blossom” photo by and courtesy of Dona Bollard

Eldred, when he was in his 80’s, wrote a letter laying out the family history from Chief Niwot to himself. His words are elegant. I adjusted contrast, etc., to improve readability.

Letter from Eldred Poisal, courtesy of Dona Bollard

Chief Niwot was one of many massacred at Sand Creek in 1864. His sister, Snake Woman, is also well known. Wikipedia makes brief mention of her place in history. She was spared at Sand Creek because of her light skin. Believing she was White, she was not killed by the slaughtering soldiers. Her daughter survived along with her. The youngster’s parents were Snake Woman, sister of Niwot, and Jules Poisal.

Jules was a French frontiersman. Margaret Poisal was the daughter who survived along with Snake Woman. The daughter, Margaret, married Thomas Broken Hand Fitzpatrick. Margaret is Eldred Poisal’s great great grandmother. That is how Eldred carries Niwot’s genetics in a direct line, and thus gives us the best clues to what this great chief of the Arapahoes looked like. Eldred closes his historical letter by saying he is “proud to have his image shown as Nowot [sic].” I am quite proud to be able to share these pictures and to share this most important and fascinating part of the history of the Boulder Valley.

Eldred Poisal  photograph by Dona Bollard

We at AboutBoulder are thrilled and humbled by being able to share Dona Bollard’s photography. We are truly excited to also share her insight into and records of the history of the real face of Chief Niwot, (Left Hand). Thank you Dona! This is deeply appreciated and will hold a special place in the hearts of all who read it.

The Great Chief deserves our attention. He is known to have been a superlative leader, a peacemaker, and sadly, a tragic emblem of the depths of depravity we know as the Sand Creek Massacre. Left Hand’s story is a story for another blog!

Lenny Lensworth Frieling

Shared Knowledge Is Power!

Leonard Frieling Pen Of Justice

• Multi-published and syndicated blogger and author.
• University lectures at University. of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
• Former Judge
• Media work, including episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
• Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
• Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
• First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
• Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
• Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
• Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
• Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
• http://www.Lfrieling.com