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September 18, 2014 VOLU M E 6 | I SS UE 38 | 5 0 ¢
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Celebrating culture, life of radio producer American Indian Festival offers free entertainment for two days By Tammy Kranz
tkranz@colorado communitymedia.com When radio show producer Susie Aikman died in June, the modest two-day festival she was helping to plan to honor American Indians blossomed into a large-scale event. Organizers of the festival had first thought maybe 200-300 would attend to see a handful of performers throughout the weekend. They now estimate a thousand people may attend the festival to enjoy close to a dozen performers, 22 vendors, silent auctions, children’s activities and dinner and a movie. The American Indian Festival runs Saturday, Sept. 27, and Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 3960 E. 128th Ave., Thornton. “We started out with a little festival but, with her unfortunate death, people came out of the woodwork,” said Lynne Holman, a Cherokee Indian and festival organizer. “She was very involved with her Cherokee
heritage and was loved by many.” Aikman, who lived in Denver, produced the show Alternative Voices, an American Indian radio program that aired every Sunday morning for 28 years. The festival will be in her memory. “As a church, we are interested in the diversity in our communities, and the festival is planned to honor that diversity,” said Karen Bueno, a member of the United Methodist Conference Committee on Native American Ministries, where the idea for the festival originated. The festival’s theme is Bridges to Respect, because organizers wanted to promote respect and acceptance of different cultures, Holman said. “We wanted to bring to the community the idea that there are thousands of Native Americans living in the Denver area, but nobody knows who we are because we are low key,” said the Thornton resident. The two headlining acts are flutist Eric Many Winds Herrera and singer-storyteller Rose Red Elk, whose stage name is Red Feather Woman. “Most of my audience members are not Indians,” said Elk, who lives in Wheat Ridge. “I hope I educate them on my culture with some of the traditional stories. But mostly, it’s important that we connect.”
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 10 A.M. Medicine Heart Dancers 11 A.M. Seven Falls Dancers NOON Red Feather Woman- Singer, Storyteller 1 P.M. Eric Herrera - Flute 2 P.M. Adams 12 Indian Education Dancers
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vvela@colorado communitymedia.com
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OFFICE: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Adams County, Colorado, the Brighton Banner is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210, Westminster, CO 80031. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT BRIGHTON, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 8703 Yates Dr., Ste. 210 Westminster, CO 80031 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
Both Cynthia Coffman and Don Quick say their positions on how to handle gay-marriage court battles are in the best interest of same-sex couples who are seeking nuptials. The two candidates for attorney general discussed gay marriage and other topics during recent, separate sit-down interviews with Colorado Community Media. Coffman, a Republican deputy attorney general, and Quick, a Democrat and former Adams County district attorney, are locked in a key down-ticket race. Coffman, who is married to U.S.
IF YOU GO AMERICAN INDIAN Fes-
tival
SEPT. 27-28 GOOD SHEPHERD United
Methodist Church
3960 E. 128th Ave., Thornton WWW.SHEPHERDCHURCH. ORG
Festival continues on Page 7
ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
3 P.M. Denver Indian Center Youth Dance Troupe 4 P.M. Ken Little- American Indian Dance Troupe 6-8 P.M. Dinner and an American Indian movie SUNDAY, SEPT. 28 NOON Red Feather Woman- Singer, Storyteller
1 P.M. Eric Herrera - Flute 2 P.M. American Indian Dancers 3 P.M. Raven Dancers 4 P.M. Bear Limvere- Flute 5 P.M. American Indian Dancers
Rep. Mike Coffman, touts her experience in state government and knowledge of office operations as reasons for voters to support her candidacy. Quick, a Wheat Ridge native, notes his record as Adams County DA, including his prosecution of government corCoffman ruption among officials there. And he served as chief deputy for attorney general Ken Salazar from 2002 to 2005. The race is one of the most closely watched attorney general’s races in the country, with significant campaign dollars come in from outside donors. But, all of that aside, the race could come down to gay marriage. “There is no constitutional de-
fense for treating gay and lesbian couples differently,” Quick said. “There are no second-class citizens.” But Coffman said Quick’s personal views about gay marriage have nothing to do with the role the attorney general plays in this issue. “I have a perQuick sonal opinion about the issue, which I’m not going to share because to me, my personal opinion doesn’t matter,” she said. Current Attorney General John Suthers, a Republican who is termlimited, has defended the state’s 2006 gay marriage ban in court battles that reached new heights over the summer. In June, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals — which has jurisdiction
over Colorado cases — ruled Utah’s gay marriage ban to be unconstitutional. However, the court stayed its decision, knowing that the case would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. The court’s stay didn’t stop the county clerk in Boulder from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Shortly thereafter, a state district court judge in Adams County ruled in a separate case that Colorado’s gay marriage ban is also unconstitutional. That judge also issued a stay in the decision. Despite calls from gay lawmakers and Gov. John Hickenlooper not to appeal the Adams County ruling, Suthers has taken the case to the Colorado Supreme Court. And, along the way, Suthers has waged a court battle with the Boulder County Clerk’s Office in an effort to stop it from issuing more sameGala continues on Page 7
Gala coming to Armory Performing Arts Center Historic Preservation Commission hosting 1950’s style dinner dance By Lou Ellen Bromley
bromleyclan@hotmail.com P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
As part of her performance, Elk does a social round dance with the audience. She said she hopes her music and stories inspires others to find out more about their heritage. On Saturday, the entertainment begins at 10 a.m. with the Medicine Heart Dancers, followed by Seven Falls Dancers at 11 a.m., Red Feather
Rivals differ on battle over gay marriage Coffman, Quick seek post of state attorney general
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ABOVE: Steven Howell with the Seven Falls Dancers performs on Earth Day at Garden of Gods in Colorado Springs. Seven Falls Dancers will perform Sept. 27 and 28 during the American Indian Festival in Thornton. RIGHT: Phineas Rodriguez with Seven Falls Dancers performs at Rockledge Powwow in Colorado Springs. Seven Falls Dancers will perform Sep. 27 during the American Indian Festival in Thornton. Courtesy photos
Brighton Historic Preservation Commission is hosting its third
annual gala evening at the Armory Performing Arts Center in Brighton. This year’s 1950’s Rock Around the Clock event will be 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. The 1950s dinner and dance will have live music provided by Kenny Cordova and The Olde Rock Band and a catered dinner. In previous years, the Brighton Historic Preservation Com-
mission has hosted a 1920s and a 1940s gala, both were outstanding events. And as in the previous two, guest are encouraged to dress in costumes from the 1950s, to take part in the fun, bringing back memories of the different eras. All proceeds from the Gala will help the commission with their efforts to preserve the historic buildings and sites in Brighton. A live
and silent auction will also be held at the Armory that evening, to help raise funds for the Brighton Historic Preservation Commission. Tickets can be purchased at the Armory, which is located at 300 Strong St. in Brighton, online at info@brightonarmory.org or by calling the Armory at 303-6552026. The purchase price is $30 per person or $50 for a couple.