Longmont adopted its third sister city with the Northern Arapaho Nation in Wyoming during the pandemic. After two years of not being able to visit, students and volunteers will, for the first time, get to experience the other’s culture.
Longmont Sister Cities Association is a nonprofit organization that “fosters relationships between many cultures,” according to its website.
In 1991, the organization built a bond with Chino, Japan, followed a few years later, in 1998, with Ciudad Guzman, Mexico.
In 2021, the nonprofit was the first to not only build a bridge with a third sister city but the first to do so within the same continental boundaries.
The COVID-19 virus has kept volunteers and students from traveling for the last two years. While this restriction remains in place for student exchanges with Japan and Mexico, Longmont ambassadors will, for the first time, get to journey to visit the Northern Arapaho.
According to Janice Rebhan, president of Longmont Sister Cities Association, this year’s delegation will visit Estes Park where an Arapaho Elder will “explain the historical significance of Estes,” she said.
Estes Park was home to several Native American tribes including the Utes, who dominated the region. As early as the 1790s, the Arapaho arrived in the area after being pushed west by their Soiux enemies, according to the Visit Estes Park website. Evidence of the tribes’ activities and summer encampments are still found in the area.
Longmont Sister Cities is still finalizing what activities they plan to share with the Northern Arapaho delegation but the list includes a visiting a Denver museum, the Bronco’s stadium, the St. Vrain Valley Innovation Center and the Rec Center.
Delegates from Longmont can expect to learn about the traditions and culture of the Northern Arapaho which could include traditional crafts and foods and a school.
“We are very excited to resume student exchanges after having to cancel for the past few years,” Rebhan said.
Although in-person visitation has not been a possibility for the nonprofit, they have maintained the relationships through virtual meetings, according to Rebhan.
This year Longmont and Cuidad Guzman will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the relationship. And Longmont Sister Cities held a virtual meeting recently with Chino and have another planned in April.
“While meeting virtually is nice, sharing meals, spending time together in person and having spontaneous interactions can't be replaced in a zoom meeting. Culture includes a lot of nuances and is difficult to experience remotely. Travel for students opens their hearts and minds to other ways of life and promotes better understanding of differences - something we all need no,” Rebhan said.
Applications for the Northern Arapaho delegation are now open.
