"The soul wounds of history do not heal on their own. They must be tended. This truth is why, every year, descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre conclude the Spiritual Healing Run at the steps of the Colorado State Capitol, the very heart of the state's government. And it is why, as a descendant, I look at the empty pedestal on the Capitol's west plaza and foresee that the most crucial step in Colorado's journey toward true reconciliation is still ahead of us."
"On November 29, 1864, a peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho people, who had been promised U.S. military protection, were slaughtered by Colonel John Chivington's troops. More than 200 lives were taken - mostly women, children, and elders - in an act of betrayal so profound that it echoed across generations. Though it was swiftly condemned as a massacre by military and congressional investigations, Colorado celebrated it as a victory for decades."
"That lie was embodied by a plaque that listed Sand Creek among Colorado's Civil War battles on a monument that stood until recently on the Capitol grounds. Now, that space is reserved for a powerful and necessary replacement: the "Peace Keepers" memorial, a bronze sculpture honoring the courageous, peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho leaders, like Chief Black Kettle and Chief Left Hand, who held on to the promise of peace until their final breaths, and Medicine Woman who survived the massacre with 8 bullet wounds."
The Sand Creek Massacre of November 29, 1864, saw U.S. troops slaughter a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho encampment, killing more than 200 people, mostly women, children, and elders. Military and congressional investigations condemned the attack as a massacre, yet Colorado long celebrated it as a victory. A monument plaque once mischaracterized Sand Creek as a Civil War battle but has been replaced by the Peace Keepers memorial honoring Cheyenne and Arapaho leaders and survivors. In 2025, the Colorado Legislature and governor unanimously endorsed the memorial as institutional recognition and a step toward governmental forgiveness. Lasting healing requires ongoing, intentional tending to generational trauma.
Read at High Country News
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