FLC Elder-in-Residence program welcomes John Emhoolah to campus

DURANGO, CO – John Emhoolah, educator and spiritual leader, will visit Fort Lewis College to interact with students, faculty, staff and community members as part of the FLC Native American Center’s Elder-in-Residence program.

On Thursday, November 3, Mr. Emhoolah will give a public presentation entitled “A Tradition of Native Warriors Then and Now.” The presentation will take place at the Center of Southwest Studies Lyceum from 5:30 – 7 p.m. A reception will precede the presentation at 4:15 p.m. at the Center. Both the presentation and reception are free and open to the public.

John Emhoolah, a grandson of a famous Arapaho Chief, works to build bridges of understanding between cultures. Mr. Emhoolah is of the Kiowa and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma and a long-time Denver resident. He maintains an active role in several traditional Kiowa societies, including the O-Ho-Mah War Dance Society, Kiowa Gourd Clan, and the Kiowa Native American Church. Perhaps the most widely known spiritual elder in the Denver area, Mr. Emhoolah carries his message of traditional spiritual ways and prayers to countless events, organizations and gatherings.

Mr. Emhoolah has held management roles at the Denver Indian Center, and in 1997 he accepted the position of director for the Adams County Five Star Schools Indian Education program, logging in over 35 years of service in the field of education. Mr. Emhoolah is a co-founder and 20-year member of the internationally famous Denver March Powwow where he has served in numerous leadership roles throughout the years.

He has received many achievement awards including the 2008 Tesoro Foundation Honored Veteran Award, and the National Indian Education Association’s Elder of the Year in 2008.

Each year the FLC Native American Center Elder-in-Residence program brings prominent figures from the Native American community to campus to meet with the College community in an effort to increase knowledge and understanding.

For more information, contact the FLC Native American Center at 247-7221 or 247-7222.