Raising Our Voices for Missing Indigenous Women

Today was the Colorado Springs Womxns March. Like every other time I've participated, I not only marched proudly alongside everyone else, I concentrated on documenting it too. There was an emphasis this year on women of color, especially indigenous women. A large contingent of young indigenous folks carried these red signs emblazoned with the names of missing Native American women, and they were led by Alyssa Bravo, whom you see here. Alyssa is 20 years old and a member of the Comanche Nation. I got a few pictures of her and we took a moment to chat. Here's what she wanted you to know, in her words: "We are constantly fighting, every day, for our indigenous womxn to be returned home. Currently there are over 6,000 missing. We don't have an exact count because there are no government agencies tracking this crisis. The red hand prints on our faces represent all the voices of our womxn who have been silenced."

If you'd like to know more about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, click HERE. I'll hopefully have many more images from the march on Monday. See you tomorrow for Sunday Style!

Red Retiree

This retired car from the Cog Railway can be found in Woodland Park, right next to the rest stop on Highway 24 in the middle of town.

The Cog

The Cog Railway is another Colorado Springs area institution. It's also the highest railway in the nation. From its station in Manitou it crawls all the way to the top of Pikes Peak. That's a pretty cool way to summit a fourteener! I've never taken the cog, isn't that terrible? It's been on my list forever. There's no excuse!

The cog was built in 1889 and has operated pretty much continuously since then, but it's been out of commission for the last year or two. The Broadmoor bought it fairly recently (of course, they buy everything good about this city 😒) and are doing some extensive repairs and upgrades. I've heard it's going to reopen next year. Maybe I'll finally mark taking the cog off my list then. Meanwhile, you can find one of the train cars in Woodland Park, next to the rest stop on the main drag, right across the street from the Cowhand western store in yesterday's post. Here's a photo of the logo on the side of the train car. More tomorrow.

The Cowhand

I've always loved this horse! It's a landmark in Woodland Park. Whenever I drive through there, I look for it. The Cowhand is a western wear shop that's been in business since 1965. If you're ever visiting the area, it's a good place to stop in and pick yourself up a pair of boots and a hat so you can look like a real Coloradoan!

A New Footbridge

Palmer Lake is getting a new footbridge over the railroad tracks, which will give everyone easier access to the lake. I know it seems silly, after all for all these years everyone simply walked over the tracks, but you'd be surprised how many people get hit by trains every year doing just that! Besides, it'll make going to the lake much easier for cyclists and folks in wheelchairs.

Puppy Pilot

This little Snoopy-piloted biplane can be found in Monument. My friend Jenn lives there and thought it might be a fun subject for the blog. She's right!

Sunday Style!

Behold my uniquely stylish client Kayla, who wore this very cool and goth-y ensemble for her engagement portraits at Palmer Park with her fiancé James last month. I especially dig the black feather ruff. Outstanding! If you care to see the great portraits we created that day, click HERE.