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Dec. 12, 2024: ‘NDN Santa’ celebrates Christmas and culture

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AMERICAN-INDIAN-SANTA-CHRISTMAS
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Executive Director of the Denver Indian Center, Rick Waters, Kiowa and Cherokee, doing double duty as American Indian Santa, Dec. 9, 2024.

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With his elaborate feathered headdress and red sunglasses, he goes by the name "NDN Santa"-- that's NDN, a play on "Indian"-- and for more than 25 years, Rick Waters has been celebrating Christmas and culture at the Denver Indian Center. Waters is also the executive director of the center. This interview adds to a journey that began last December when Chandra set out to find diverse Santas in Colorado.