River Sisters Congreso
Hermenas del Rio
River Sisters Congreso
Hermenas del Rio
About riversisterscolorado.com
The River Sisters Congreso is a coalition of Indigenous, Chicano/Mexicano, and community
leaders dedicated to protecting and honoring the South Platte River. Our mission is to
restore balance, health, and respect for the River as a living relative through cultural
preservation, environmental justice, policy advocacy, and ceremonial practice.
This work seeks to build bridges between ancestral wisdom and modern environmental
stewardship. Through collaborative partnerships, River Sisters Congreso advances a vision
of a just and sacred future where culture, ecology, and community well-being flow together.
Personhood for the South Platte River
River Sisters Congreso is advancing the recognition of the South Platte River as a living
being with inherent rights — to flow, to be clean, and to regenerate her ecosystems. Guided
by Indigenous worldviews and international precedents (such as the Whanganui River in
Aotearoa/New Zealand), this effort seeks to embed cultural and ecological principles into
Denver’s environmental policy. The proposed framework includes a community-led
guardianship model, ensuring shared accountability between Indigenous representatives,
local residents, and city partners to protect the River’s health for future generations.
Turquoise Necklace Cultural Plan
The Turquoise Necklace envisions a continuous corridor of 16 interconnected parks and
open spaces along the South Platte River, each symbolizing a “bead” in a necklace of
renewal, healing, and connection. River Sisters Congreso collaborates with Denver Parks &
Recreation, DHA, CASR, Denver Water, and Arts & Venues to integrate cultural storytelling,
artistic expression, and public space design. Public art serves as a powerful vehicle for
expression and education — honoring the River’s spirit while reflecting Indigenous and
Chicano/Mexicano histories, creativity, and resilience. Through sculpture, murals, and
ceremonial installations, the Turquoise Necklace will elevate ancestral narratives and
contemporary voices alike, turning the River corridor into a living cultural landscape. The
plan promotes balance between ecological restoration, artistic and cultural expression, and
community access, reinforcing the river as a unifying thread across Denver’s
neighborhoods.
As part of this vision, River Sisters Congreso plans to submit a formal name change
proposal for the park currently referred to as Vanderbilt Park East, recommending it be
renamed “Seven Generations Park.”
This name honors the intergenerational responsibility to care for the river, the land, and
one another.
The design concept for Seven Generations Park will also include Four Directions Art —
installations symbolizing the cardinal directions, representing balance, harmony, and
spiritual guidance. These will reflect traditional teachings that unite the physical, cultural,
and spiritual relationships between the river and the communities who live along her.
Community Partnerships & Equity
River Sisters Congreso prioritizes equitable engagement and environmental justice through
collaboration with historically marginalized communities along the South Platte corridor.
Working with partners such as Spirit of the Sun, Servicios de La Raza, and The Greenway
Foundation, the Congreso is shaping a model of co-creation rooted in traditional ecological
knowledge, cultural education, and intergenerational leadership. These partnerships ensure
that the River’s restoration reflects community voices, protects affordability and access, and
supports youth and elder participation in stewardship.
Call to Action
The River Sisters Congreso calls upon the Denver City Council to stand in partnership to
recognize the South Platte River as a living relative, integrate cultural guardianship into
river planning, and embed environmental equity into municipal policy. By formally
endorsing the River Personhood Framework and supporting the Turquoise Necklace as a
city-recognized cultural and environmental initiative, Council can help Denver become a
national model for integrating culture, justice, and ecology. This partnership would advance
the city’s climate goals, deepen community trust, and ensure that the River’s story — past,
present, and future — remains alive in policy, design, and spirit.
“Water is Life — Mni Wiconi”
