FREE EVENT

January 17 – 18, 2026

Experience an exceptional celebration of Indigenous culture featuring a premier Indigenous art market, captivating cultural demonstrations, live music, a ticketed gourmet meal sourced from Indigenous farms, a powerful Indigenous film screening, an exciting competition Pow Wow, and a privately funded & Indigenous produced First Peoples Fashion Show, and many more enriching experiences.

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Be captivated by live music performances, vibrant traditional dances, soul-stirring drumming, and powerful singing as Indigenous artists from around the nation showcase their talents. Experience the profound connection between Indigenous peoples and the land through special programming that highlights their relationship to Estes Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park. Engage with cultural demonstrations and a weekend you will never forget.

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First Peoples Festival Committee

“The First Peoples Festival is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and sharing the diverse cultures, histories, and contemporary voices of Indigenous peoples. Through vibrant programming in art, music, fashion, film, food, and storytelling, the festival uplifts Indigenous creators, fosters meaningful connections to ancestral lands, and invites all communities to engage in respectful dialogue, learning, and cultural exchange. Our mission is to honor the enduring presence and contributions of First Peoples while creating a space for education, empowerment, community, and celebration.” –First Peoples Festival Committee

Nico Strange Owl is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana and has worked with Indigenous art and artists over the past forty years.  She is the current owner of Eagle Plume’s, a historic trading post at the base of Long’s Peak near Allenspark, Colorado.  She has also worked as a bead worker, an appraiser, and a consultant in Native art, collaborating with museums, operating galleries, and being in the art business all her life.  She is also the descendant of Sand Creek Massacre survivors and is truly at home in Colorado. We are deeply honored to have her head this committee.

John Gaisthea, a proud member of the Hopi and Laguna tribes, has long been an active figure in the Indigenous community of Fort Collins. Since moving to the area to attend Colorado State University, John has been deeply involved in the CSU Powwow Committee, contributing to the rich cultural fabric of the campus. He was also a founding member of the first all-student drum group, the Punde River Singers, and played a pivotal role in establishing the Fort Collins NCPA Powwow Association. John facilitated a relationship with Steve LaPoint and Early Dawn of 1st Tribal Consulting to start the First Peoples Festival Powwow. We are honored to have him on board.

Sandra Huerta and Thadd Eggen, owners of Taharaa Mountain Lodge and Twin Owls Steakhouse, are Colorado natives who have called Estes Park home since 1999. A part of Twin Owls from its inception, Sandra began as a hostess. She quickly became instrumental in transforming the venue into one of Colorado’s premier wedding and special event destinations. Today, she oversees every detail to ensure that each celebration, from family reunions to rehearsal dinners, is executed flawlessly.

For the third year, Sandra and her husband, Thadd, are proud to host the First Peoples Festival Dinner—a four-course culinary experience featuring ingredients sourced from Indigenous farms. This special event is a highlight of the festival, reflecting her commitment to honoring Indigenous traditions and deepening the festival’s cultural impact. They are the presenting sponsor for First Peoples Festival. We are so honored to work with them.

RisingBuffalo Maybee, a member of the Northern Arapaho and Seneca Nations and the Turtle Clan, has served on the First Peoples Festival committee for the past three years. He was the District Supervisory Park Ranger for the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, overseeing visitor programs and facilities, including the Beaver Meadows and Fall River Visitor Centers. He is currently the Tribal Program Manager at Grand Canyon National Park.

With deep ancestral ties to the land, Rising Buffalo brings a personal connection to his leadership role in the park. His career with the National Park Service includes work at culturally significant sites such as Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and El Morro National Monument, where he has helped protect and interpret Indigenous heritage. It is an honor to have RisingBuffalo be on our committee.

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First Peoples Fashion Show

“Our mission is to empower Indigenous artisans through high fashion. As an all-Indigenous collective of artists and storytellers, we bring together creators from across the continent to build communities through cultural collaboration. We are committed to Indigenous representation and redefining luxury with a powerful, authentic voice”. –First Peoples Fashion Show Board

We are excited to introduce you to Otakwan, the Indigenous producer of the upcoming, privately funded, First Peoples Fashion Show.

Learn how you can help support this great mission.

Otakwan is a grounded and powerful Métisse woman, carrying the legacy of the Métis Nation (Otipemisiwak), Saskatchewan, wherever she goes. Her fashion journey, once a far-off dream for a girl from a small Northern village, has blossomed into a powerful purpose. As a co-producer, runway director, and model, Otakwan amplifies Indigenous voices, boosts representation, and highlights the strength and beauty of diversity. She’s passionate about nurturing an environment where creativity flourishes responsibly, balancing innovation with profound respect for heritage and human connection. Her mission is clear: to help steer an industry that continues to inspire, provoke thought, and ultimately, celebrate the endlessly rich tapestry of human experience through the art of style. Otakwan has been in numerous high-level productions from coast to coast and is a regular at prominent fashion weeks internationally. She is also featured in several European museum galleries representing her people, including being 1 of 40 chosen for the Shane Balkowitsch Northern Plains Native Americans Vol 2: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective book. 

Highlights of 2025

Native Vendor Market

Ticketed Dinner with Sean Sherman, The Sioux Chef

Indigenous Film Symposium featuring Julianna Brannum

Competition Powwow

The Band Indigenous

Inaugural First Peoples Fashion Show produced by Sandi and David Siegel

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For more information regarding the First Peoples Festival, contact:

Becky Gruhl | bgruhl@estes.org | 970-577-3902