Ceremonial storytelling
Investiture

A behind-the-scenes look at the ceremonial elements shaping this celebration 

Fort Lewis College will formally invest President Heather Shotton, Ph.D., on Thursday, April 9. Investiture is a longstanding academic tradition in which a president is formally vested with the authority and responsibilities of office. The April ceremony marks both a traditional academic milestone and a historic moment of Indigenous leadership at an institution that once operated as a federal Indian boarding school. 

President Shotton, an enrolled citizen of the Wichita & Affiliated Tribes and a descendant of the Kiowa and Cheyenne Tribes, is the first Native American president of Fort Lewis College. Her investiture reflects both continuity and change, honoring the resilience of Indigenous communities while affirming the College’s commitment to truth, belonging, and shared responsibility. 

Ceremony highlights

The Investiture ceremony will honor FLC’s unique mission as a Native American Serving, Non-Tribal Institution and President Shotton’s heritage:

• The Kiowa Black Leggings Society, (Ton-Kon-Gah), a military society with more than 200 years of history, will present the United States, Colorado, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe flags. 
  Composed of military veterans, the Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society carries forward the longstanding Kiowa tradition of protecting and serving their people. Historically, Kiowa warrior societies played a vital role in maintaining order within the community, defending the tribe, and upholding cultural responsibilities—traditions that continue to be honored today.
  
  
• The Otoe‑Missouria Singers, from the Otoe‑Missouria Tribe in Red Rock, Oklahoma, will perform a Flag Song followed by an honor song.
  For many Tribal nations, flag songs hold an honor comparable to the national anthem, recognizing military service and honoring the American flag alongside individual Tribal flags. Originating during World War I, these songs reflect Tribal pride, sovereignty, and the service of Native veterans. Honor songs are performed to recognize an individual’s achievements or respected place within the community and are often shared during significant ceremonial moments.
  
  
• A blessing will be offered by Gordon Yellowman Sr.  (Cheyenne and Arapahoe). Born in Clinton, Oklahoma, to ceremonial leaders, he began Sundance ceremonies at 14. With more than 32 years of service in tribal government, education, and cultural outreach, he is a Cheyenne Peace Chief, artist, Knowledge Keeper, and NAGPRA leader whose work includes repatriation, museum planning, and national preservation project.
  
  
• The ceremony will also feature a special gifting of a blanket and beaded pin which are both symbols of honor and respect. Ernest House, Senior Policy Director at Keystone Policy Institute and Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Member, and Adam Red of the FLC Board of Trustees, will present the gifts.  

Students, faculty, and invited leaders will share reflections on leadership, education, and community.

From history to forward momentum 

Just after celebrating the inauguration of its first Native American president, the college will break ground on two transformational projects: the Sky Pavilion and the Indigenous Garden. 

The Sky Pavilion, expected to open in 2027, will serve as a flexible indoor-outdoor performance and gathering space for campus and community events. Located adjacent to the Center for Southwest Studies and Community Concert Hall, the Pavilion was designed for accessibility and ease of use, supporting artistic expression, public dialogue, and shared celebration. 

Located near the Hesperus Peace Park and Art Building, the Indigenous Garden will be a living space for healing, cultural education, and land-based learning. Designed as a demonstration and teaching landscape, the Garden will feature medicinal, edible, pollinator, and craft plants, along with outdoor classroom space for hands-on instruction and reflection. 

Together, these projects expand opportunities for gathering, storytelling, and connection to land—visible commitments to the values reflected in the investiture ceremony itself.