Sand Creek

[Gary]

From the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal Tribune (1st Augsut 2008):

Repatriation held at Sand Creek

A police-escorted funeral procession lead approximately 60 people
to the cemetery designated at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site on June 2, 2008.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) representative Gordon Yellowman, along with other dignitaries and National Park Service officials gathered at the national historic site, located in Colorado, to bury the repatriated remains of some of those killed in the Sand Creek Massacre.

Published sources indicate that before dawn on Nov. 29, 1864, more than 700 soldiers, mostly volunteer Colorado state militia, attacked the Cheyenne and Arapaho encampment on Sand Creek, killing approximately 150 old men, women, children, and babies.

The remains were returned by, but not limited to, the Colorado Historical Society, Denver Museum of Science and Nature, University of Nebraska, and Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site.

To commemorate the repatriation, patriotic and ceremonial songs were sang, the U. S. flag was raised, and a letter written two weeks after the massacre; describing the events, was read out loud by Byron Strom, a descendent of Captain Silas Soule, who wrote the letter.

Other letters describing the massacre can be found in the book - Life of George Bent, written by Hyde Bent [sic - George Hyde]. Bent was the half-Cheyenne son of William Bent and Owl Woman. He gives an eyewitness account of the attack on the Cheyennes and Arapahos, in his narrative letters to Hyde Bent, beginning in 1905 and lasting until 1918.

[maryhawk]

does anyone know anything about sitting bear that was killed at the sand creek massacre?
his brother's name was big louse. his wife's name may have been bear woman. who were his children or grand chidren? was he cheyenne? thanks

[cinemo]

On July 11, 2013, Descendants of victims of the Sand Creek Massacre have filed a class-action lawsuit in Denver against the federal government, seeking reparations they claim were never paid for the slaughter of their Cheyenne and Arapaho ancestors 149 years ago.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court on behalf of four Oklahoma-based members of the Sand Creek Massacre Descendants Trust, is the most concrete step taken in decades by descendants long frustrated by politics, inaction and divisions in their ranks.

The complaint accuses the government and its agents of lawless behavior and hollow promises surrounding one of the darkest moments in Colorado history.

The text of that complaint you can see here :

de.scribd.com/doc/153216249/Sand-Creek-Complaint

cinemo

[cinemo]

On March 17, 2014, Gov. John Hickenlooper ( Colorado ) announced two major efforts regarding the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre.

The first is a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the State of Colorado and History Colorado with the Northern Cheyenne of Montana, the Northern Arapaho of Wyoming and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma to create a government-to-government agreement that demonstrates a commitment between the State and the Tribes to educate the public about the Cheyenne and Arapaho people and culture and the history of the Sand Creek Massacre.

Hickenlooper also announced a new Sand Creek Massacre Commemoration Commission, which was created by Executive Order. The commission will be co-chaired by Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia and include tribal, federal, state and local governments, historians, scholars, religious leaders, and institutions of higher education, to work together to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre.

“The MOA and the joint commission create an avenue for statewide collaboration, communication and coordination to educate the public about the Cheyenne and Arapaho people and the history of the Sand Creek Massacre,” Hickenlooper said. “Both will serve to strengthen our ongoing relationship with the tribes, honor their history, celebrate their culture and most importantly prevent horrific acts such as these from ever occurring again.”

The Commission will coordinate activities and events that commemorate the 150-year anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre on Nov. 29, 1864.
The MOA is the outcome of consultations between History Colorado and the Tribes to address concerns about the History Colorado Center’s Sand Creek Massacre exhibit, as well as to develop a plan for future relations. Consultations about the exhibit continue with History Colorado, the Tribes, the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs and the National Park Service Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.The Commission has launched a website where important news and events will be posted .

sandcreekmassacre150.com/

cinemo

[cinemo]

Today we commemorate the 150. anniversary of the disgraceful Sand Creek massacre .

Sometimes, photos speak louder than words.

Photograph 1 (taken in 2006 )

The late Martha Wolfname ( Northern Cheyenne ) was instrumental for the dedication of the
Sand Creek National Historic Site.

www.denverpost.com/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?contentItemRelationshipId=1381352

Photograph 2 ( taken in 2011 )

In that photo gallery we can see Michael Hancock. He was the first Mayor of Denver, who visited the annual Sand Creek Spiritual Healing Run.

photos.denverpost.com/2013/07/11/photos-sand-creek-massacre-remembering/#24

cinemo

[cinemo]

The Sand Creek Massacre Memorial

Efforts are currently underway to construct a permanent memorial to the victims of the Sand Creek Massacre on the Colorado State Capitol grounds. The purpose of the memorial is to honor the victims of the massacre and remind Colorado lawmakers of a dark chapter in Colorado history. We hope this memorial will complement the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site by raising awareness among the 250,000 annual visitors to the State Capitol.

Tribal Representatives from the Northern Arapaho, Northern Cheyenne, and Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes are currently in the process of designing the memorial to be created by Cheyenne and Arapaho artist Harvey Pratt. There is an active fundraising campaign with many ways to participate.

remembersandcreek.org/

Governor John Hickenlooper talks about the importance of the Sand Creek Massacre in American history and why the Colorado needs a permanent memorial to the event at the state capitol.



cinemo

[cinemo]

The Soule – Cramer letters after the massacre

Originally, the letters written by Soule and Cramer to Major Wynkoop disappeared after the congressional committees released their reports on Sand Creek. Fortunately, the letters were rediscovered in

2000 in Colorado.

Here you can read the letters :

Captain Soule's letter, written on December 14, 1864 :

kclonewolf.com/History/SandCreek/sc-documents/sc-soule-to-wynkoop-12-14-64.html

Lieutenant Cramer's letter, written on December 19, 1864 :

www.kclonewolf.com/History/SandCreek/sc-documents/sc-cramer-to-wynkoop-12-19-64.html

cinemo

[becky]

I tried the link to read the document and it did not work. Becky

[Gary]

It worked for me. The Lone Wolf site has some really good information and links.

[becky]

I tried the link today and it worked. It makes my stomach roll and brings tears to my eyes to read the reports, 150 years later.
Man's inhumanity toward his fellow man is sickening. I really hope they do place a memorial to the people killed at Sand Creek and name them. They deserve the recognation and respect. Becky