{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-neguse-pettersen-and-sens-hickenlooper-bennet-introduce-bill-rename-mount", "Reps. Neguse, Pettersen and Sens. Hickenlooper, Bennet Introduce Bill to Rename Mount Evans Wilderness", "2023-10-17", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal lands, and Representative Brittany Pettersen joined U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet in introducing legislation to change the name of Colorado\u2019s Mount Evans Wilderness to the Mount Blue Sky Wilderness. The change aligns with the U.S. Board of Geographic Names\u2019 recent decision to officially rename Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky. Only Congress can authorize a change to the wilderness area name.\n\n\u201cI am proud to join Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet in introducing this critical bill to rename this important wilderness area as the Mount Blue Sky Wilderness, taking another step forward in our work to honor the histories of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The Mount Blue Sky Wilderness Act is a reflection of our dedication to remembrance, honor, and healing,\u201d said Congressman Neguse.\n\n\u201cCommunities and tribes across Colorado have been working for years to get Mount Evans renamed to Mount Blue Sky,\u201d said Congresswoman Pettersen. \u201cTheir determination and commitment have finally come to fruition. The renaming of the mountain and now, with our bill, the surrounding wilderness area, are a powerful symbol of healing and unity. Mount Blue Sky is more than just a name\u2014it is a way to honor the Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples whose ancestors were the victims of the Sand Creek Massacre. I\u2019m proud to join the coalition who made this meaningful change possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cRenaming Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky helped to honor and recognize the Tribes and advocates who worked hard to create change,\u201d said Senator Hickenlooper. \u201cNow, renaming the wilderness area the peak overlooks is the logical next step\u2013one we\u2019re honored to spearhead.\u201d\n\n\u201cTribes and local communities led the process to rename Mount Blue Sky \u2013 an important step to address the atrocities committed against the Cheyenne & Arapaho people,\u201d said Senator Bennet. \u201cThis legislation to rename the surrounding wilderness area is an important next step to reaffirm our commitment to Tribes and honor their legacy.\u201d\n\n\"The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are excited about the introduction of the name change of Mt. Evans Wilderness Area. We thank all the Colorado Congressional members for introducing the bill to help restore the wilderness area to a respectful and proper name,\u201d said the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Governor Reggie Wassana.\n\n\"The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes have long pursued the effort to rename Mount Blue Sky and its surrounding wilderness, backed by a groundswell of local support,\" said Jim Ramey, The Wilderness Society's Colorado State Director. \"No wilderness area, stream or mountain should offend, hurt or cause harm to any Coloradan. Let this wilderness area, with Mount Blue Sky at its heart, be a place of healing, comfort and progress. This legislation is a sign of that progress. We thank Senator Hickenlooper and Representative Neguse for their commitment to inclusivity and fairness across all public lands and urge Congress to take up this bill quickly.\"\n\nCurrently, the wilderness area is named for the second territorial Governor of Colorado John Evans, who paved the way for Colorado\u2019s Sand Creek Massacre. On November 29, 1864, U.S. soldiers killed 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people at Sand Creek \u2014 most of them women, children, and the elderly.\n\nThe proposed new name recognizes the Cheyenne people, whose annual ceremony of renewal of life is called Blue Sky, and the Arapaho people, who are also known as the Blue Sky People.\n\nThe proposal to rename the mountain was first proposed by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and The Wilderness Society, and has continued to gain support from Tribes, local governments, community groups, and non-profit organizations.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-neguse-pettersen-and-sens-hickenlooper-bennet-introduce-bill-rename-mount"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1157989501953125, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}