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Photo Courtesy of : Arapaho tribal historian Tom Meier Sand Creek Massacre NHS - Human Remains Return Nearly 146 Years after Massacre In a solemn ceremony marked by reflection, prayer, and traditional songs, the partial remains of a person killed during the November 29th, 1864 Sand Creek Massacre was buried Monday, October 25th in the cemetery at the historic site. Almost 146 years ago, Colonel John M. Chivington led approximately 700 soldiers including many 100 day volunteers to a village of about 500 Cheyenne and Arapaho people camped along the banks of Big Sandy Creek in southeastern Colorado. Nearly 200 persons - mostly women, children, and the elderly - were killed. The Sand Creek Massacre profoundly affected families, tribal structure, and Indian – Non Indian relations across the west. At considerable risk to themselves, two veteran cavalry officers, Captain Silas Soule and Lieutenant Joseph Cramer, stood their commands stood down from the attack, refusing to participate, and for this are honored by the descendants of the massacre today. Due in part to their testimony, the massacre was condemned by two federal investigations. In attendance for the burial were people from the tribes of the Northern Cheyenne of Montana, Northern Arapaho of Wyoming, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho of Oklahoma. “Most important, is this individual has returned home. We are here to remember and honor our ancestor and the others of our people who were here” said Otto Braided Hair, coordinator of the Northern Cheyenne Sand Creek Office, “It has been a long time and we still feel the effects, but it is good we could make this finally happen”. Cold temperatures, and shifting 30 mile an hour winds were a reminder of the extremes of weather sometimes experienced on the open plains. The partial remains were obtained from a descendant of one of the soldiers and returned directly to the tribes. Documentation and oral history provided compelling information linking the remains to the site. “This is a rare and humbling event”, said park Superintendent Alden Miller. Bent and Kiowa County's Sheriffs, Gary Oyen and Forrest Frazee, and their deputies helped ensure the safe transit of the motorcade some ninety miles from Bent’s Old Fort NHS to Sand Creek Massacre NHS, where funeral services were conducted with a tribal honor guard in attendance.
Attendees included:
Governor Janice Prairie Chief Boswell of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes
from Oklahoma; Allen Joe Black Wolf – Sacred Hat Keeper for the Northern
Cheyenne Tribe from Montana: traditional spiritual leader Bobby Joe
Goggles and representative Gail Ridgley of the Northern Arapaho Tribe
from Wyoming, ceremonial woman Ella White Eagle of the Cheyenne and
Arapaho Tribes from Oklahoma, Henrietta Mann Ph.D. - president of the
Cheyenne Arapaho Tribal College in Weatherford, OK; Southern Cheyenne
Arapaho elder Gertrude Fire; Southern Cheyenne Arapaho elder Marie
Whiteman; Southern Cheyenne Arapaho spiritual leader James Blackbear;
Southern Cheyenne Arapaho veteran spokesman Mock Tallbear; as well as
ceremonial leader Lee Lone Bear, Norma Gourneau and Otto Braided Hair of
the Northern Cheyenne Sand Creek Massacre Committee from Montana; and
Headman Moses Star, representatives Joe Big Medicine (coordinating),
Lela Pedro, and cultural offices directors Karen Little Coyote and Dale
Hamilton, of Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes headquartered in Oklahoma, and
Bent’s Old Fort NHS Superintendent Alexa Roberts Ph.D.,
Tom Meier, Arapaho Tribal Historian and David Halaas, Historian.
A well attended meal organized by Karen Little Coyote with donations from each of the tribes was held at the Kiowa County fairgrounds community center following the burial. Legislation for the park unit identified the need for an area where remains related to the massacre could be interred. Alden Miller Superintendent - Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
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