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The Keystone Policy Center is proud to share that Ernest House, Jr., director of Keystone’s Center for Tribal and Indigenous Engagement, has been selected by the City and County of Denver to lead the planning effort for the future American Indian Cultural Embassy.
A citizen of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, House will guide the next phase of the project by convening Native leaders, engaging with community members, and helping shape a vision for a space that celebrates and supports American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Denver.
“Ernest House, Jr. brings a lifetime of leadership, integrity, and commitment to Native communities to this important effort,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in a press release issued by the City and County of Denver. “His experience strengthening Tribal partnerships and elevating Indigenous voices makes him uniquely qualified to help guide the vision for the American Indian Cultural Embassy. Under his leadership, this voter-approved investment will reflect the values, history, and future of Denver’s American Indian and Alaska Native communities, ensuring this space is shaped by and for the people it is meant to serve.”
“Indigenous communities have always led with a deep understanding of land, culture, and responsibility to future generations,” added House in the press release. “Efforts like this create space not only to recognize history, but to support living cultures and strengthen the role of Native leadership in shaping the future. When we approach this work with humility and partnership, we can build something lasting.”
The American Indian Cultural Embassy was approved by Denver voters in November 2025 as part of the Vibrant Denver Bond package. The project aims to create a dedicated place for cultural connection, learning, and collaboration that reflects the heritage, leadership, and living cultures of Indigenous communities. In his role, House will work closely with Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships and members of the American Indian and Alaska Native community. The process will include establishing an advisory council representing Tribal Nations, learning from other cultural institutions, and identifying opportunities to support initiatives that benefit Indigenous communities.
At Keystone, House leads the Center for Tribal and Indigenous Engagement, where he works to elevate Indigenous leadership, strengthen government-to-government relationships, and ensure Native voices help shape the policies and projects that affect their communities. His work focuses on building partnerships that bring together Tribal Nations, governments, nonprofits, and other stakeholders to address complex challenges and opportunities.
