“Why do dark skies matter? Should this topic be one of conservation concerns? What can be done?” are the central questions of the 2022 State of the Rockies Dark Skies/CC After Dark project which launched this spring. Students’ preliminary findings show strong community and individual support for dark skies conservation. Voices missing from the conversation are those of Indigenous residents of the region. We continue to work to connect with the sources that have been shared by CC staff and faculty, a professional journalist, and others, and in spring 2023 and summer 2023, we plan to gather field interviews by visiting national public land locations in the Rocky Mountain West proximal to areas where Native American populations reside (i.e., reservations; nearby communities/towns). The significance of the cosmos to humans can be traced across the millennia of human history. We evolved into diurnal beings; our brain development and function shaped by the rhythm of daytime and nighttime patterns and processes. Our perception of ourselves as Earthlings in relation to the universe helped mold our religious beliefs, lifeways, and the location, re-location, and planning of societies, among other important aspects of human life throughout the ages. We aim to include in the second phase of this project the voices of Indigenous groups whom we recognize and value as the source of original knowledge. Our intent is to share our research findings with conservation and policy decision-makers. CC will work with the Center for Western Priorities to plan student presentations with various stakeholders and interest groups.