National Park Service

Sand Creek Massacre NHS

Contact:  Craig Moore

November 29, 2005

Northern Cheyenne Spiritual Healing Run

 The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site helped to host the 7^th Annual Northern

 Cheyenne Spiritual Healing Run on November 24-26, 2005.  This year’s run was sponsored by

 the City and County of Denver’s Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations in

 conjunction with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana.

 Marking the 141^st Anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre, this year’s run included a Sunrise Ceremony at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.  Approximately a dozen runners circled a portion of the Sand Creek site four times, the Cheyenne sacred number, before heading down county roads to Eads High School.  Before starting, the runners were reminded of the spiritual nature of the annual run - done to honor victims and descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre. The run is regarded as critical in helping to preserve Cheyenne heritage.  For many runners, a return to Cheyenne ancestral homelands in southeastern Colorado and participation in the event offer strong educational and cultural awareness.   

 Early in the afternoon the runners were joined by over fifty tribal members and local citizens in a community feast held at the Eads High School cafeteria.  Helping to sponsor the meal were Mr. Bill Dawson, Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Ms. Barbara Roberts, and Mr. Rod Johnson.  Later, the runners and other participants headed north towards Limon and Denver via Highway 287 and Interstate 70. 

 After reaching Denver, the runners were hosted at the Denver Art Museum were a Candlelight Vigil was conducted on Friday evening.  On Saturday morning an honoring ceremony was held at the Riverside Cemetery gravesites of Captain Silas Soule and Lieutenant Joseph Cramer, Companies D and K, First Colorado Cavalry.  Both officers witnessed the Sand Creek Massacre – later, each man, through testimony and correspondence vehemently condemned the attack and its associated atrocities.

 The Healing Run and its activities would not have been possible without the generous support of many groups and individuals.  Special thanks go to Karl Zimmermann and Craig Moore of the National Park Service, Dennis and Sharon Pearson, John and Jeff Campbell, Mr. Bill Yohey representing the Kiowa County Fire Department, the Kiowa County Economic Development Foundation, Lindsey Calhoun, Mr. Darious Smith of the Denver Mayor’s Office, and Mr. Bill Tallbull and Mr. Otto Braided Hair of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.  Special thanks also to the residents of Kiowa County who attended the event.

 For additional information about the Healing Run or the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, please call 719-438-5916 or 719-383-5051.