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Sand Creek Massacre News Release
January 31, 2005 For Immediate Release Craig Moore NPS TO ASSIST TRIBAL FIRE CREW
The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Black Kettle Fire Crew, is sponsoring a week of fire prevention activities at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. The work, which will begin on February 7, will be done on land owned by the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The project will focus on reducing the hazardous fuel load caused by a build-up of dried vegetation along Big Sandy Creek.
Spearheading the project for the NPS is Park Ranger Karl Zimmermann from the staff of Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site. The Black Kettle Fire Crew is based out of Hammon and Elk City, Oklahoma. The three to four man crew is comprised of Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal members. Scheduled to make the Sand Creek trip are firefighters Rueben Seven Star, Marlin Orange, and Randy Youngbull.
The Black Kettle Crew is named after the famous Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle who survived the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864. Chief Black Kettle died in 1868 during an attack on his village by Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and the 7th U.S. Cavalry. Most members of the Black Kettle Fire Crew are descendants of Black Kettle’s band of Southern Cheyenne.
While at the site, the Black Kettle Crew will be using a wood chipper on loan from Capulin Volcano National Monument, New Mexico. The chipper will be used on tumbleweeds, brush, downed cottonwood limbs and other vegetation that poses a potential fire hazard at the site.
The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site was authorized in the fall of 2000. Pending the acquisition of additional land, the site has not been officially established, and remains closed to the public. Recently, Colorado Senator Wayne Allard introduced legislation to put 1465 acres of tribal land at Sand Creek into trust status. Companion legislation will be introduced in the House by Colorado Representative Marilyn Musgrave. Similar legislation, S2173, was introduced by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004. Campbell’s legislation was unable to receive House approval prior to adjournment of the 108th Congress.
For information about the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, please call the park at 719-383-5051 or 719-438-5916, or write to 35110 Highway 194 E, La Junta, CO 81050.
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