Honoring the Ute Legacy: Mural Reveal at CMC Rifle

On May 22, the Rifle Campus came alive with history, art, and community as CMC unveiled a powerful new mural honoring the Ute people and their deep-rooted connection to the Colorado River Valley. The event, which drew a large and heartfelt crowd—including members of the Frost family—was a moving celebration of culture and storytelling.

Created by Rifle-based artist Jeremy Velasquez, the vibrant mural expands upon the campus’s longstanding tradition of depicting the region’s ranching, mining, and agricultural heritage. Now, that legacy includes the voices and history of the Ute people—Colorado’s original stewards of this land.

At the heart of the mural is Kenny Frost, a respected Southern Ute leader and advocate who spent decades shaping policy and preserving Indigenous culture in Western Colorado. His legacy includes organizing the first United Ute Powwow in more than a century, helping ensure the respectful reburial of ancient remains, and embedding Native voices into federal land planning.

Also featured at the event was Larry Cesspooch, a filmmaker, Navy veteran, and storyteller from the Ute Indian Tribe. Through spoken word and ceremony, he shared the Ute Creation Story, the rich seasonal traditions of his people, and offered a blessing for the mural and all present.

Together, the mural and celebration marked a significant moment for CMC and the Rifle community—a visual and spiritual reminder of shared history, ongoing presence, and mutual respect.