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CLICK HERE: “This is Ute Homeland”: New museum exhibit showcases Ute People of Pikes Peak, Working with Ute Artists, Help Shape the Future of Parks, and more! - through 8/19/25

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Until Forever Comes gallery portal, CSPM exhibit

“This is Ute Homeland”: New museum exhibit showcases

Ute People of Pikes Peak

Visitors explore the new exhibit “Until Forever Comes: This is Ute Homeland” Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Colorado Springs Gazette, Photo by Christian Murdock.

Visitors explore the new exhibit “Until Forever Comes: This is Ute Homeland” Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, The Gazette, Photo by Christian Murdock.

Gazette Reporter Kelly Hayes interviewed Crystal Rizzo Cultural Preservation Director of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe about the CSPM’s newest permanent exhibit. “One of the things I absolutely love is that it’s a tri-Ute project. So this isn’t just Southern or just Ute Mountain or just the Ute Indian Tribe. It’s all three of us. All three of us are really well represented in this exhibit,” Rizzo said.

Check out the full article in The Gazette.

Working with Ute Artists by Leah Davis Witherow,

CSPM Curator of History

Frances Bison, Southern Ute, and her husband Southern Ute Tribal Vice Chairman Marvin Pinnecoose at the opening reception for Until Forever Comes: This is Ute Homeland, Photo credit: Frances Bison.

Southern Ute Tribal Vice Chairman Marvin Pinnecoose addressing guests at the "Until Forever Comes" opening reception, Photo credit: Frances Bison.

Frances Bison, Southern Ute, standing next to her ribbon dress in the Until Forever Comes: This is Ute Homeland exhibit, Photo credit: Frances Bison.

In preparation for the opening of Until Forever Comes: This Is Ute Homeland, CSPM staff worked with over 20 Ute artists and creators to commission and/or purchase items for exhibit in the gallery and for the museum’s permanent collection. Many of these objects can be seen throughout the UFC gallery, including the beautiful ribbon dress created by Frances Bison, Southern Ute. Ms. Bison’s ribbon dress can be found in the Bear Dance case, and illustrates the type of dresses worn by members of all three Ute Tribes when attending Bear Dances each spring.

To celebrate the opening of this important exhibit, the CSPM invited our Tribal partners, Tribal consultants, and all the artists and creators to the opening reception. After months or even years of talking on the phone or exchanging emails, it was wonderful to meet so many exhibit contributors in person. Southern Ute Tribal Vice Chairman Marvin Pinnecoose provided extremely meaningful remarks during the opening reception, and we were honored that both Vice Chairman Pinnecoose and his wife Frances Bison were in attendance. Afterwards, Frances Bison sent a nice note to CSPM staff stating, “Thank you so much for letting me be a part of the museum. The history you have is amazing.” To learn more about Bear Dance and to see Frances Bison’s ribbon dress in person, please visit the CSPM Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Donor Spotlight: Until Forever Comes Sponsors

“Until Forever Comes: This is Ute Homeland” Logo designed by Justin Gilbert, Southern Ute, of Kuvua Design, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.⁠

We would like to thank our generous sponsors who support the development and implementation of Until Forever Comes: This is Ute Homeland:

ANN Family Foundation

Bee Vradenburg Foundation

Clock Tower Society

Colorado Humanities

The Hester E. and Edwin W. Giddings Foundation

Susan Bradt Laabs and Joel Laabs

Lyda Hill Philanthropies

Lodgers Automobile and Rental Tax (LART)

Thomas and Alberta Meagher Legacy Fund

National Endowment for the Humanities

John Orsborn in honor of the Orsborn Women

Union Pacific Foundation

William Stanley Foundation

Help Shape the Future of Colorado Springs Parks

Imagine COS Parks green banner with text

As many of you may know, the CSPM is part of the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department. The department is currently updating its Park System Master Plan. The completed master plan will guide the department’s efforts over the next 10-15 years. If you are interested in the future of our city’s amazing park system, as well as the future of the museum, we encourage you to provide input through the online survey. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and we appreciate if you mention the that you value the work of the CSPM!

Learn more and share your voice.

Volunteer of the Month: Junior Docents

Junior Docents Macy (left) and Bronwyn (right) help move collection boxes in the CSPM archives.

This summer the museum is working with 12 high school students as part of our Junior Docent Program. Alivia, who is in her third year of the program, shared insight into today’s project: “Bronwyn, Macy, and I helped CSPM Archivist, Hillary Mannion, in moving two collections. These collections will assist in research for future museum projects. By doing this the JDs got a behind-the-scenes look at how collections are stored at museums and the hard work that goes into it. Additionally, we learned how every part of a museum works together cohesively!” Thank you to our awesome JDs!

Special Promotion for CSPM's Museletter Subscribers

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Up next at Theatreworks is Flyin’ West by Pearl Cleage on July 11 – July 27! In 1890s Kansas, the homesteading Dove sisters are proud of their land and of the all-Black town of Nicodemus. But soon they find themselves contending with speculators attempting to buy up their town from outside, and an unsavory brother-in-law who might break up their family from within. Directed by Marisa Hébert (actor - Steel Magnolias, director - Every Brilliant Thing and King Hedley) this play by Pearl Cleage, one of the essential modern American playwrights, highlights unsung pioneers of the American West and the resilience, resolve, and recipes that let them weather an unforgiving time and place in American history. Purchase your tickets today and receive a 50% discount when you use the promo code: FWPIONEERMUS.