2025 Market Facts VRP - Flipbook - Page 2
ABOUT THE COVER:
Chief Niwot, also known as “Left Hand,” was a respected Southern Arapaho leader who played a
crucial role in the early history of Boulder Valley. A gifted diplomat fluent in English, he sought
peaceful coexistence with white settlers during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, even as he warned them
of the valley’s sacredness with the now-legendary words: “People seeing the beauty of this valley will
want to stay, and their staying will be the undoing of the beauty.” This statement, later romanticized
as the “Curse of Boulder Valley,” reflects both his deep connection to the land and his foresight
about the consequences of settlement. Despite his efforts to broker peace, Chief Niwot was tragically
killed in the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. Today, his legacy endures in Boulder County through
place names like the town of Niwot, Left Hand Creek, and Niwot High School, as well as public
memorials and ongoing
community discussions that
honor his wisdom, leadership,
and enduring impact on the
region.
Chief Niwot’s legacy—both
through this quote and his
peaceful diplomacy—serves as
a moral compass in discussions
about:
• Land use and preservation
• Cultural respect for Native
history
• Ethical community
development
By remembering his words not
as a curse, but as a warning
rooted in care, Boulder Valley
residents today are urged to
preserve the land’s beauty with
intention and humility.
