Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Briefing Update November 17, 2005

• The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma own 1465 acres within the authorized boundary of the Sand Creek Massacre NHS. Legislation to transfer this land, as Indian Trust, to the U.S., was introduced as Senate Bill 57 and House Bill 481, and signed by President Bush, August 2005. Legal transfer of this land, as trust, now goes before the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes as resolution or other sovereign nation law.

• Efforts to establish the site continue between the National Park Service, Kiowa County, the state of Colorado, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, and other partners. Current issues include the location of a cemetery and the eventual re-internment of human remains at the site; utility access and availability of potable water; and fire suppression and other natural resource projects.

• Dendrochronology (tree ring dating), pollen analysis, and ethno-botany projects have been completed/or funded for the coming months.

• The 7th Annual Northern Cheyenne Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run is scheduled for November 24th, 2005.

• The National Park Service continues to promote public education and preservation of the Sand Creek Massacre NHS; highlighted by recent briefings to cadets at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs and upcoming programs at the Denver based Rocky Mountain School for Expeditionary Learning and the annual Snow Goose Festival in southeastern Colorado.

• Staff recently participated in the N1EA (National Indian Education Association) Conference Denver, CO., October 6-9, 2005.

Alexa Roberts (seated) with Cheyenne and Arapaho Sand Creek Representatives during Sand Creek Massacre presentation at the National Indian Education Association Conference in Denver, October 2005.