Those Killed at Sand Creek Return

On Monday, June 2, approximately 60 people were on hand as remains of six

people killed at Sand Creek were returned home after a journey of nearly

144 years.  Killed during the November 29, 1864 attacks, they were laid

with appropriate ceremony in the cemetery area at the Sand Creek Massacre

National Historic Site, in Colorado.

 The remains had been returned to the tribes under the Native American

Graves and Repatriation Act by (NAGPRA), among others, the Colorado

Historical Society, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and the Denver

Museum of Science and Nature.  They were then cared for at Bent's Old Fort

National Historic Site until June 2nd, when they were finally interred for

the first time.

 After ceremonial preparation, smudging and prayer, the remains and escort

bearers traveled to Sand Creek Massacre NHS for the burial.

 Sheriffs Forrest Frazee of the Kiowa County Sheriff's Department and

Sheriff Gary Oyen of the Bent County Sheriff's Department coordinated the

escort of the funeral procession non-stop some 64 miles from Bent's Old

Fort to the cemetery at Sand Creek Massacre NHS.

 The ceremony was marked by prayers and ceremonial drum songs, including

chief's and flag songs, as veterans raised era-appropriate colors of the

United States of America along with a white flag, symbolizing those

reported to have been raised at the time of the attack.

 A letter from abolitionist Captain Silas Soule, penned two weeks after the

massacre, was read aloud by his descendant Byron Strom, which described the

grim events of that day and Soule's decision, along with that of Lieutenant

Joseph Cramer, to disobey Colonel John Chivington's orders to attack, and

stand their troops down.

 The National Park Service would like to thank all those that assisted with

preparations for the day's ceremonies.

 Representatives from the tribes of the Cheyenne and Arapaho were

instrumental in the process of consultations for the interment including

Lee Lone Bear, Steve Brady and Otto Braided Hair from the Northern

Cheyenne, and Chief Gordon Yellowman from the C&A Tribes of Oklahoma, and

Gail and Ben Ridgely from the Northern Arapaho.

 Several Kiowa County community leaders assisted with or were in attendance

during the day's events - Kiowa County Commissioners Rod Brown and Vern

Harris; Eads Mayor Cardon Berry; Eads Chamber of Commerce President Dennis

Pearson; Lisa Trigilio and Jordan Barnett from KCEDF (who organized

refreshments, and along with Janet Frederick, NPS, served food and

beverages at the site during particularly hot weather) and Rod Johnson from

USDA FSA.  Former Kiowa County residents W.F. and Tootie Dawson also

attended the ceremony, with Mr. Dawson being requested to assist several

tribal veterans in the flag raising.

 In attendance were several western authors and historians, as well as a

delegation from the National Park Service, along with Kiowa County

community and local government leaders, and delegations from several

legislative offices, including Dwight Gardner, Regional Director, Arkansas

River Region, from US Senator Ken Salazar's office; as well as from the

Methodist Church.

 Sand Creek Massacre NHS is open for Ranger led tours 7 days a week, from

9am - 4 pm, April 1st to December 1st.