Chief Niwot, Left Hand, is certainly the most famous of our Native American Boulderites. Niwot is known as a peacemaker and as a truly great chief of the Arapaho. Lives lived large spawn legends. Left Hand has birthed several.

THERE ARE NO ACTUAL IMAGES OF CHIEF NIWOT KNOWN TO EXIST.

TRUE!

The closest we may have come are the magnificent photographs of Dona Bollard. Her sepia-toned masterpieces of a blood descendant of Niwot and Snake Woman, Eldred Poisal are a great example. He was in his 80’s when he wrote about how proud he was to have his image used as an “image” of the great chief. Snake Woman survived the Sandy Creek Massacre because she was light-skinned and thought to be White. So far, this is the picture which looks the most like Left Hand. “Squash Blossom” is the name of the necklace style which Eldred is wearing in Bollard’s award-winning photograph.

Squash Blossom, Sepia-Toned Photo of Eldred Poisal by Dona Bollard.

NIWOT’S CURSE

Niwot’s curse is well known in the Boulder Valley. “Whoever visits the Boulder Valley is Doomed to Forever Return!” TRUE! Anyone who has visited Boulder knows this is not legend, but simple truth. I am an exception. I visited Boulder Valley and did not return. I simply never left!

According to the legend, Chief Niwot warned early White settlers and prospectors who encroached upon the Boulder Valley during the Colorado Gold Rush of the 1850s. He is said to have expressed a deep sadness and love for the land, fearing the impact of the influx of people and their disruptive influence on the natural beauty and harmony of the region. Chief Niwot reportedly said that those who came to the valley would find it so beautiful that they would be compelled to return again and again. The essence of the so-called Niwot’s Curse is the idea that anyone who visits the Boulder Valley will forever feel a pull to return. This reflects a recognition of the valley’s extraordinary beauty. Chief Niwot’s words have been interpreted in various ways over the years, but they consistently emphasize the enchanting nature of the Boulder Valley, which continues to attract people from all over the world.

While the specifics of Chief Niwot’s actual words and the historical accuracy may be debated, the legend persists as a testament to the magnetic appeal of the Boulder Valley and its lasting impact on those who experience it.

THE ARAPAHO KNEW OF BOULDER’S “BAD AIR” AND NAMED BOULDER ACCORDINGLY.

FALSE! As far as my research reveals, and with extensive discussions with CHATgpt, it seems that no word in Arapaho or in any Native American language is recognizable as a modern English word meaning “dirty air.”

The Arapaho people, like many indigenous cultures, had a deep understanding of natural phenomena and their impact on the environment. They observed and named various weather patterns, atmospheric conditions, and seasonal changes.

For temperature inversions, where a layer of warmer air traps colder air near the ground, the Arapaho might have had a descriptive term based on their observations and experiences. While specific Arapaho terms for temperature inversions and “dirty air” (pollution or poor air quality) in the winter aren’t widely documented, they likely had ways to describe these conditions based on their practical impact on daily life and the environment.

The Arapaho language is rich and descriptive, so it’s possible they had specific words or phrases to describe phenomena like temperature inversions, which can cause cold, stagnant air to settle in valleys, leading to poor air quality. Their terms would likely focus on the observable effects, such as the stillness of the air, the accumulation of smoke or fog, or the impact on health and visibility.

For example, they might describe the condition by referencing the appearance of the sky, the feel of the air, or the behavior of smoke from fires.

CHIEF NIWOT DID NOT DIE AT SAND CREEK.

NOT EXACTLY THE WHOLE TRUTH.

Chief Niwot was a key figure in the events leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864, where a peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho old men, women and children was attacked by the Colorado Territory militia. Chief Niwot was indeed wounded at the Sand Creek Massacre, which occurred on November 29, 1864. He sustained severe injuries during the attack by the Colorado Territory militia. Chief Niwot, also known as Chief Left Hand, died as a result of his wounds several days later. His death occurred after the massacre, marking the tragic end of a respected leader of the Southern Arapaho people.

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
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• 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
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• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
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