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NORTHERN ARAPAHO HEALING RUN July 2005 The community of Eads and the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site recently hosted over 120 Northern Arapaho tribal members during the tribe’s annual Spiritual Healing Run. On Thursday evening, July 28, a pot-luck for the visitors from the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming was held at the Community Building. The dinner was well attended, and featured entertainment supplied by the High Plains Eagle Drum and Dance Group of the Northern Arapaho Nation. Prior to the meal, several respected Arapaho leaders addressed the crowd, among them Anthony Addison Sr., Co-Chairman of the Northern Arapaho Business Council, and Mr. Nelson White. After dinner, high school boys and girls basketball games were contested at the High School Gymnasium between local athletes and the visiting Arapaho. On Friday morning, activities were held at the site of the Sand Creek Massacre. Approximately 60 Northern Arapaho runners were involved in this year’s event. Participants were reminded of the spiritual, rather than competitive nature of the run. With guidance from Arapaho traditional leaders, each runner was ceremonially prepared for the grueling task that lay ahead. By 11:00 am the runners had left the Sand Creek Site, headed north towards Limon. It was anticipated that the run would culminate at or near the small community of Bennett, CO. The Sand Creek Massacre NHS would like to extend its deep appreciation to the Eads community for their continued support. The Northern Arapaho also wish to acknowledge and thank members of the community for their generosity and continuing kindness. In other news from the Sand Creek Massacre NHS, it has recently been learned that both Houses of Congress have passed legislation enabling the United States to accept into Trust the 1465-acre property formerly known as the Dawson Ranch and currently privately owned by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. This is the last legislative step necessary before the Secretary of Interior may officially establish the Sand Creek Massacre NHS and before the National Park Service open it to the public. As a final update, the State Highway sign located along 96 just east of Chivington, which supplies traveler information and describes the history of the Sand Creek Massacre, has been temporarily removed. Once the Colorado Historical Society makes a modification to the sign, it will be placed back at its normal location.
For additional information about the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, please visit the site’s web page at www.nps.gov/sand.
Craig Moore Park Ranger, Sand Creek Massacre NHS
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