Chante Chicano: Whose America Celebrates Colonialism?

Daniel Stange de Acatl

Posted April 23, 2026

America 250 – Colorado 150 has been touting their ambition to fund communities to host events and make a little money from the state allocated half a million dollars. Naturally, they consulted the Native Americans that have been here much longer than 250 years? They assembled a commission of representatives from Black, Latinx, and Asian communities, but to get Native participation they waited for the bill to pass. Then they lured some local American Indian leaders to a dinner to gain their trust and explained how they welcome some input for natives to give their blessing for trying to exterminate their elders.

The simple missed forethought from State officials that Native Indigenous tribal members who don’t even have an allocated reservation on the front range is evidence. They have tried so hard to disappear our original people because of the guilt in their history. There is no harsher episode of human rights violations and suffering than what is the real history of America. The pre-history of modern western civilization was completely nurtured by the original inhabitants. The foundations of liberty are grounded from within the soil of this land.

They have tried so hard to disappear our original people because of the guilt in their history.

American true forefathers and corn mothers were the keepers of cosmic wisdom that developed the richness of this continent we call Turtle Island, Abya Yala and Anahuaka. True history of the encounters of European religious zealots was a humanitarian cause. The Wampanoag, Iroquois and Cherokee nations welcomed groups of refugees to these shores and gave their medicines and rituals of kindness to help them. There are numerous histories of settler people having appreciation and respect for American Indian knowledge, skills and land management. Yet, no mention of us in the western age of enlightenment.

Southwestern United States has older colonial establishments than the United States government in New Mexico and also in San Luis Valley Colorado. Facts of their celebration are also ignored because of the difference in the trauma of assimilation that was perpetrated by Spanish vs Dutch/English. Even those histories are thwarted by state official and federal jurisdiction more easily than Women’s rights. The mirror that America reflects onto the world is more confusing than the ramblings of the current President. Not to be undone with global forces and international bankers; but even the term conspiracy has lost its meaning.

This issue of Indigenous rights has international impacts but the current state situation focuses on Colorado, which is the only state ratified in 1876. So, what makes 150 special? What secret rites were held within the centennial production? Who remembers that the Republican Convention of 1969, after Barry Goldwater lost the presidential race, but flipped every southern Democrat to the Republican party? I hear that Trump is making all the America 250 events about him. So, what details of Colorado are going to be highlighted?

My favorite is the Breathing Healing Bus tour. This was the vision of a young person and some promotion by one of Denver’s best Indians, Sid Whiting. They can tell you of the fraud that was committed by the State of Colorado, alongside the federal government. If the truth does not shock you, obviously your level of trauma is so deep that your sense of injustice ignores them. And “We The People” are so powerless at times, that our instinct to defend one another is colder than the iceberg tips that this issue is raising.

To many of my uncles—that like to ridicule my fatalistic viewpoints, we do agree that some of our modern luxuries and technologies are utopic excuses. We also tend to agree that mankind is becoming a slave to its’ own creation, don’t we? When people get nostalgic, they tend to look to anniversaries and cycles that remind them of life’s milestones. Why is the inclusion of Native American culture, beliefs, and practices such a taboo? The very Constitution that Donald Drumpf abuses was framed upon the governance of Iroquois confederation principals.

The DEI lessons that were eradicating white supremacy are not a conspiracy of coincidence. There are very intentional forces that fear critical thought and self-determination. Let’s not forget that what you learn cannot be taken from you, even though you followed blind faith into a dungeon of emotional poison and abuse. There is a way out of ignorance called truth. We are all created of the same energy that is Mother Earth as she spins throughout the galaxy around the Father Sun.

Everyday could be a celebration when you greet the first light of the day and give thanks. I thank you for the knowledge that you continue to remember. Like a turtle that holds the ancient patterns of its shell and shares life on both land and sea. We can remember the teaching these ancient turtles shared with ancestors that gave our America the identity of Turtle Island. Colorado’s mountains reflect the crocodile’s spine that stretches along shores of contemplation. Aztecs call it Cipactli. How can we give input to help state officials understand the need for true historical perspective?

I vote for better educational curriculums in our public school system.

Tlazokamati – Gracias.

Danny Stange de Acatl is a Denver Native and Cultural activist that serves his community on various levels.