This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
By Mayor Brian Bagley
Originally Published in the City of Longmont "City Line" newsletter.
Longmont is making new friendships with the original residents – and longtime neighbors – of Longmont.
The Northern Arapaho live in and around Riverton, Wyoming, on the WindRiver Reservation. Like many Native Americans, they have a long and contentious history with the United States, and some of those difficulties include a deep historic connection to Boulder County and Longmont.
That’s why Longmont has reached out to our neighbors to the north. We want to establish a friendship and ignite a partnership with the Northern Arapaho to better understand their culture and to share ideas that can benefit both of our communities.
Delegates from the City of Longmont traveled to Wyoming in early August, and representatives from the Arapaho visited Longmont in September. We discussed many topics including the city’s broadband initiative, youth programs, mental health,
substance abuse programs, and economic development.
Our ongoing conversations have only scratched the surface about the many cultural and economic opportunities that exist between our two great communities, and we are excited to pursue a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the Northern Arapaho Tribe.
We also are discussing the establishment of a formal Sister Cities relationship where we can create a student exchange program similar to Longmont’s connection to Ciudad Guzman, Mexico, and Chino, Japan. We believe that connecting youth from our respective communities will broaden their perspectives of the world.
One of the guiding principles of Sister Cities International is to “recognize, celebrate, and magnify the catalytic power of people-to-people interaction through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation – one individual, one community at a time” and to allow people and cultures to understand one another.
I can’t think of a better way to express my passion and desire for bringing our two communities closer together.
