It is commendable for those of you who are pushing forward with this so that Evans is made accountable for his role in the Sand Creek Massacre. Whatever is discovered, based on my experience in writing, directing and producing the award-winning documentary film, “The Sand Creek Massacre”, which was cataloged into the Smithsonian Institute Libraries, you must involve the Cheyenne and Arapaho people in this search for the truth. Recently deceased Southern Cheyenne Chief Laird (Whistling Eagle) Cometsevah told me that his great-great grandfather survived the Sand Creek Massacre. He said that there were over 400 Cheyenne and Arapaho people murdered at Sand Creek, not the “150 to 200 or so”, to which most Caucasian scribes including historians, educators, reporters, authors, military people etc. constantly and repeatedly refer (many of these individuals base all of their findings on what other Caucasian people through the years have researched and discovered).Leaving out the Cheyenne and Arapaho people in this investigation as well as not involving them in articles, books, films, etc. about the Sand Creek Massacre is like a direct slap in their face. Laird expresses in the film the need for respect. Respect the land. Respect nature. Respect each other. Respect. Respect. Respect.
As long as anyone even mentions the Sand Creek Massacre, they should involve the Cheyenne and Arapaho people, or they are showing disrespect towards the Cheyenne and Arapaho people. As long this kind of disrespect is exhibited, the Cheyenne and Arapaho people will not find peace and Caucasians will fail in communicating with them.
Respectfully Submitted,
Donald L. Vasicek
Olympus Films+, LLC
The Zen of Writing
http://www.donvasicek.comd
dvasicek@earthlink.net
