November 29, 2011

Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run

Today is the 147th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre. Here's what's happening to mark this solemn occasion:

A Different View of History

By Carol BerryChief White Antelope Way was a noted Cheyenne peace chief, one of 11 leaders who died November 29, 1864 in a camp on Sand Creek in the high plains grassland of southeastern Colorado that probably looks today much as it did then, historian David Halaas, said.

The encampment was “very much a chief’s camp,” according to Halaas, who said that 11 leaders were among those promised safety by Colorado officials—a promise that proved lethal.

The 13th Annual Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run began from the Sand Creek Massacre National Historical Site, near Chivington, Colorado, early Thanksgiving Day to commemorate some 200 Cheyenne and Arapaho people—mostly women, children and the elderly—who were killed in a sneak attack by the 700-strong Colorado cavalry under Army Col. John Chivington.And:In Denver, prayers were offered at a medicine wheel-like sculpture by Cheyenne/Arapaho artist Edgar Heap of Birds that carries the message, “We are always returning back again.” Ceremonies were conducted at places connected to the death of Capt. Silas Soule, 1st Colorado Cavalry, who refused Chivington’s order to fire and who later was killed in Denver, apparently by a Chivington supporter.

At Colorado’s capitol, State Sen. Suzanne Williams represented Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper in proclaiming November 20–24, 2011 as Sand Creek Massacre Healing Run/Walk and Remembrance Days. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock proclaimed November 24–26 the 13th Annual Sand Creek Massacre Run/Walk Days and the Medicine Heart Singers sang an honor song for him.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Indians Left Out at National Parks and The Three Anti-Indian Amigos.

Below:  "In feathered headdress, Reginald Killsnight, Northern Cheyenne, addressed those who attended a ceremony at the capitol in Denver, Colorado at the end of the 13th annual Sand Creek Massacre Healing Run." (Carol Berry)

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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:14 AM

    Chivington, Colorado reminds me of my time in Namibia with the Peace Corps. Windhoek has a Goerring Street. Wait, what?

    It turns out Goerring Street isn't named after Hermann at all, but his grandfather, Heinrich, who had his own genocidal tendencies, but since they weren't white people, nobody cares.

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  2. Anonymous2:52 PM

    Why use Heap Of Birds as an example? As an art professor at the University of Oklahoma, he is more critical of native artists over Anglo artists whom he prefers to keep as his entourage and does not like traditional native art?

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