“We’re working together to do something good for our Arapaho people:” Community Fruit Rescue’s chokecherry harvest

The harvest is a collaboration between Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, Community Fruit Rescue, The City of Longmont, and the Northern Arapaho community of the Wind River reservation. The Northern Arapaho now live on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, and the Southern Arapaho live with the Southern Cheyenne in Oklahoma. “It’s just so beautiful because, uh, people have opened up their private properties where we can come harvest chokecherries,” said White. Tree Stewards were instructed to “self harvest,” freeze the fruit, and bring it to Community Fruit Rescue themselves. “For us, one of the most meaningful parts is the opportunity to connect with our Northern Arapaho partners on an ongoing basis,” said Gifford.