Voices of Western Colorado: Roots
We Asked These Western Slope Locals to Weigh in on This Topic.
DANIEL ROMAN
Owner of Western Slope SUP
“Roots are the parts of us we cannot deny. They demand truth. They connect us to the things in life we cannot live without. We carry them with us. We look for a place to put them down. The quest to ‘put down roots’ dominated the last decade of my life, spanning three continents, multiple partners and many jobs. Making a home in the North Fork Valley and founding a river outfitting company here was the natural culmination of this journey. Never forced, always guided by roots. I am rooted in Western Colorado, and that is a beautiful thing.”
KITTY NICHOLASON
Art Director, Spoke+Blossom
“Growing up on a beach, I thought I would always live near one. Somehow, I ended up 1000 miles away. I was determined to make the best of my choice. So I’d go to events, but not know a single person. The first time I ran into somebody I knew, I was thrilled. I guess I’d put down some roots. But then upon return from every trip to the coast, I didn’t always feel like Grand Junction was my real home. And now, somehow, it’s been 32 years. To this day, whenever anyone asks me — including myself — why I’m not living on a beach I don’t have a ready answer. Then I think of my lovely home, the Colorado adventures I’ve had, the close lifelong friends I’ve made and the wonderful work I get to do. So I might not be standing on a beach, but I have definitely put down roots.”
NATALIE BINDER
Founder of CampV
“When I embarked on creating CampV, I had no idea how important roots would be. Although I was raised in Wyoming, my family has deep roots in Southwestern Colorado, and this project provided a window to reconnect to these deep roots in ways I had not imagined. The explorers who settled these mining towns had grit and a deep sense of rooting down in search of prosperity and community. These roots have paved the way for the next generations to create their own prosperity. We are building a new story that is rooted in this history, art and a firm foundation in the same soil of those who came before us.”
Compiled by Lexi Reich.
Originally published in the Fall 2022 issue of Spoke+Blossom.