Save the Date: Niwot Native Art Market Returns Saturday, June 27, 2026. Learn more →

Niwot Tree Carvings

Help build a permanent home for historic wood carvings inspired by the guidance of Arapaho and Cheyenne Elders that honor the enduring legacy of Indigenous Peoples in the Boulder Valley. Originally created by artist Eddie Running Wolf and lovingly restored by his son, Dustin Wolf, these monumental sculptures deserve a prominent place to stand for generations in Niwot, Colorado.

Hand-drawn concept sketch of a tipi-inspired tensile canopy shelter over the three Niwot tree carvings at Lefthand Valley Grange Park.
Concept sketch — traditional tipi-inspired canopy and structural design at Lefthand Valley Grange Park
Hand-carved willow sculpture detail of a Native American figure wearing a feathered headdress, Niwot, Colorado.

Explore a Legacy of Tradition and Restoration

Dive into the remarkable story of how the Niwot community and the late Eddie Running Wolf, guided by Arapaho and Cheyenne Elders, transformed dying willow trees into a profound series of Native American sculptures. Read on to discover how his son, Dustin Wolf, is meticulously managing this preservation process to restore these masterpieces.

Three Honored Figures, Carved From Willow

Hand-carved willow sculpture of Ma'heónėhetane — Cheyenne Holy Man, in Niwot, Colorado.

Figure · 01

Ma'heónėhetane

Cheyenne Holy Man

Inspired by the guidance of Southern and Northern Cheyenne Elders. Holy Men and Women serve as the essential spiritual advisers of their Tribes—running Sundances and ceremonies, walking with individuals through their spiritual quests, and offering traditional prayers and healing for the community.

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Hand-carved willow sculpture of Biitoheinen — Spear Lodge Man, in Niwot, Colorado.

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Biitoheinen

Spear Lodge Man

Shaped in consultation with Elders from the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Members of the Spear Lodge were the leading defenders of their Tribes—mature men in their prime responsible for policing the camp, maintaining civic order, and enforcing the decisions of the chiefs.

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Hand-carved willow sculpture of Niisiitenoot Nii'eihiiho — The Eagle Catcher, in Niwot, Colorado.

Figure · 03

Niisiitenoot Nii'eihiiho

The Eagle Catcher

Created under the guidance of an Elder from the Northern Arapaho Tribe. The capture of eagles was a deeply sacred act—young warriors lured the birds with bait into camouflaged pits, harvested the highly prized tail feathers completely by hand, and released the eagle safely back to the sky.

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Help Us Honor and Preserve
Remarkable Niwot Sculptures

These one-of-a-kind carvings are entirely unique in Boulder County—created under the explicit guidance of Arapaho and Cheyenne Elders to sustain, protect, and honor Native cultural knowledge for generations. Your donation directly helps Niwot and surrounding communities celebrate Indigenous heritage, support the preservation artistry of Eddie Running Wolf, and secure the painstaking structural restoration carried out by his son, Dustin Wolf.