Source
Sand Creek massacre remains an open wound for the Indian people, Colorado History and U.S. History.
I can’t speak for the tribe, and the Northern Cheyenne Sand Creek Massacre Site Project cited above is requesting financial assistance in order to educate their tribal members, their youth, and the general public.
Marilyn Musgrave believes the family is one of the most fundamental and critical institutions in America. In the family, children learn basic relational skills and morals from their mom, dad and siblings.
Crossposted at Progressive Historians
Roman Nose and the Sand Creek Massacre of Nov. 29th, 1864 (Part 1) and Black Kettle and the Sand Creek Massacre of Nov. 29th, 1864 (Part 2), both dealt with their respective titles. In addition, "Black Kettle and the Sand Creek Massacre of Nov. 29th, 1864" left off with the burning of the Sand Creek village and Chief Leg-in-the-Water’s response. We pick up where General William Tecumseh Sherman took the evidence back to Washington to hide it and note the public response. Then, we will learn why the Sand Creek Massacre’s location was "lost" as the results of the village being burned and evidence being removed. Next, we'll view the legislation that created the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. Second to last, we will pay a grateful homage to Captain Silas Soule of the first Colorado Calvary and acknowledge the Healing Run. Last of all, will be the very words of a descendant himself, to serve as a humble reminder in hopes that the truth of this enormous tragedy is never ever lost.
Ironic indeed, is the fear of losing the truth of this history, for that's precisely what happened after the "Bloody Third" burned the village at Sand Creek in 1864...
Source
In Bonsall's journal, he noted that his party, which included General William Tecumseh Sherman, had gathered a wagon load of artifacts at those coordinates, including arrows, spears, scalps, cooking utensils, knives and "Indian baby skulls," which were then hauled back to Washington.
Source
While the Sand Creek Massacre outraged easterners, it seemed to please many people in Colorado Territory. Chivington later appeared on a Denver stage where he regaled delighted audiences with his war stories and displayed 100 Indian scalps, including the pubic hairs of women.
...for over a century.
Source
Losing the location of the Sand Creek massacre, Halaas says, "is like losing Gettysburg."
So in 1994, the historical society hired a professional search team from Fort Lewis College to verify the location of the attack.
The Sand Creek Massacre’s location was finally found in 1999, 135 years after being hidden and lost. The State of Colorado began searching for it two years prior to its being rediscovered.
Sand Creek Massacre Site Found
The site of the Sand Creek Massacre..., has finally been pinpointed after a century of dispute over its location... As recently as 1997, the state of Colorado tried and failed to nail down the site.
Source
On September 9, 2006, Darrell Flyingman, Governor of the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma signed legislation conveying, as trust, 1465 acres of land at Sand Creek from the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes to the United States of America.
This conveyance, unanimously approved by Tribal Legislators, will enable the establishment of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.
It's technical name is P.L. 109-45.
Captain Silas Soule of the first Colorado Calvary is remembered as the hero who stood up to Chivington before, during, and after the massacre. It cost him his life. His letters to friends and his testimony was crucial in correcting the definition of Sand Creek from a "battle" to a massacre.
Source
...The night before he had attempted with great emotion to convince Col. Chivington, the commander of all troops present, to not attack Black Kettle's peaceful Indian village at Sand Creek.
Soule did so with such passion that Chivington threatened to have him put in chains. Only when Chivington assured him that the camp would not be attacked, did Soule cease his objections.
The day of the massacre when Chivington went back on his word and commenced an attack on Black Kettle's camp, Soule refused to order his men to fire on the defenseless and peaceful Indians, primarily old men, women, and young children.
He even went so far as to order his men to take up a position between the Indians and the attacking troops, allowing more of the Indians to escape the massacre.
The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site has been scheduled to open to the public in the summer of 2007 with guided tours by rangers (some of my favorite people).
Source
The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site remains CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. It is anticipated the Secretary of the Interior will formally establish the site by the summer, 2007.
Source
It is anticipated that a limited schedule of ranger-led programs will begin at the site by the summer, 2007
The Healing Runs speak for themselves.
Source
SAND CREEK SPIRITUAL HEALING RUN AND REMEMBRANCE DAYS FOR THE SAND CREEK MASSACRE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS
November 22-29, 2000
WHEREAS,
the Sand Creek Massacre site is known for what occurred on November 29, 1864, when a peaceful village of Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians was attacked by approximately 700 soldiers commanded by John M. Chivington...
WHEREAS,
November 29, 2000 is the 136th Anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre, and this year is the 2nd Annual Spiritual Healing Run, which begins at the Big Sandy Creek near Chivington, Colo. and will end at the steps of the State Capitol in Denver...
... Therefore, I, Bill Owens, Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim November 22-29, 2000 as
D CREEK SPIRITUAL HEALING RUN AND REMEMBRANCE DAYS FOR THE SAND CREEK MASSACRE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS
in the State of Colorado
GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this twenty-first day of November, 2000
Bill Owens
Governor
They began as soon as the location was rediscovered in 1999.
Source
For the last five years Cheyenne people have been returning to their ancestral homelands for healing. In a gesture of cross-cultural good will, the Northern Cheyenne cordially invites the public to support and attend the ceremonies and events surrounding the healing run and to share this opportunity of spiritual healing during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Source
As she sat on a folding chair amid the old graves with the cold air on her face and the morning light in her eyes, Mae Whistling Elk imagined her ancestors frantically trying to flee the deadly onslaught of bullets and blows.
The Arapaho also have their healing run.
Source
Beginning in the year 2000, Northern Arapaho youth and young adults began running - a long ways. They ran from Sand Creek, Colorado to Ethete, Wyoming - a distance of several hundred miles. They did this to commemorate the Sand Creek massacre, and also to help themselves and the Tribe heal from the negative memories of that event.
The serious concern expressed below is one I have personally heard from different people; one I personally agree with.
Source
West ran in memory of her ancestors who died at Sand Creek, but also for Native American culture, which she fears is being lost.
"We went through a lot of hard times, and now we're becoming extinct basically," West said. "Our culture is dying out, and we're trying to preserve it."
Obviously, the descendants are the offspring of the survivors of the Sand Creek Massacre. President of a Sand Creek descendants' group, Laird Cometsevah, recounts the horrific event.
Source
" The Cheyenne elder (Laird Cometsevah) turns quiet and plants his walking stick in the soft ground. He tugs his baseball cap, kicks a dusty boot.
"...Genocide. I always felt their purpose was genocide.
Black Kettle was led to believe his people would be protected at Sand Creek. But they were attacked. Massacred. On their own reservation."
Cometsevah, who lives in Oklahoma, is president of a Sand Creek descendants' group. His great-grandfather and grandmother survived the massacre. So did his wife's relatives.
Conclusion
I deliberately chose to stick to this like a classical clarinetist sticks to notes on a page. The intention was cited in the very first citation.
I sincerely believe that there can be no speculation about the truth the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are trying so diligently to bring forth. Their "side of the story" was vindicated over a century ago. I will only say this: I hope with all my heart and very being that the wounds are healed from the Sand Creek Massacre of Nov. 29th, 1864.
A great source for modern Native American issues and concerns is INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY
A book that's highly recommended is:
Introduction
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
(Updated) & (Updated)
I recommended another book that was discussed below in the comments: In The Spirit Of Crazy Horse.It addresses what is cited below.
The Siege of Wounded Knee 1973 forever changed the lives of Indian people who took part and captured the imaginations of those who watched this gripping story unfold on television and in newspapers across America.
I then became reaware of a very valid point of view that was made regarding it (see below).
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse isn't as popular...
in Indian country as you might think. I met people on Pine Ridge who didn't like it at all. Their take on it was that a small fraction of reservation residents was involved in AIM and that the book has made it extremely difficult to attract any outside investment to their community. In my experience, white people in towns like Custer have a much longer memory when it comes to that period.
The author of that comment pointed out how at least some or many residents on those reservations feel that AIM is not very representative of them.
Well... Fools Crow, a famous and well respected Lakota Holy Man, who was also the arbiter in the Siege of Wounded Knee 1973, was even more critical of AIM.
Fools Crow: Wisdom And Power. p.7
Russell Means. April 8, 2001:
One of my greatest teachings came one afternoon at Grandpa's house...Grandpa (Fools Crow) was being interviewed by two documentary filmmakers...both reporters asked Chief Frank Fools Crow, does he pass on his knowledge to the younger people? He looked towards the east, stood up, threw up his arm in disgust toward the sky and said, "Ah, they don't deserve it."
I should add that the BIA has been replaced by Tribal Police in my state. I assume it is that way in others. I went to a smoke shop recently, and noticed that change from the time which was covered in that book. I think I noticed it more, since I was writing this.
Furthermore, I'm restating the last part of the conclusion above to maintain the focus, and to respect the fact that when or if those in Indian Country feel it's time to bring such issues into more public awareness; they will then do so, I believe.
The intention was cited in the very first citation.
I sincerely believe that there can be no speculation about the truth the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are trying so diligently to bring forth. Their "side of the story" was vindicated over a century ago. I will only say this: I hope with all my heart and very being that the wounds are healed from the Sand Creek Massacre of Nov. 29th, 1864.