The Sand Creek Massacre

In Massachusetts we are having a great debate about “Native American Blood” As we face an election for Senator Kennedy’s seat between the substitute Senator Scott Brown, elected in a special election two years ago and non- politician, Elizabeth Warren. But it does not seem to be educating the public about Native Americans about any important historical or present day political issues.

“How Much Indian Blood”
My 31 year old niece is 1/16 Apache, but to look at her you’d never know it and we only found out a few years ago when her father was on his death bed. Her great grand parents might have also had good reason to have been ashamed of that fact. Indian blood at those times, like other non-white blood, could be very detrimental to your standing in a community. In such situations there is no reliable paper trail. I believe Elizabeth Warren’s story and I know that Native Americans are very sensitive to the issue of “how much Indian blood”. It is a culturally internal and divisive debate that anglos need tread lightly getting involved in.
I would ask: Who would act more to the benefit of neglected Native Americans on desperately poor reservations? Who would understand the failed history of U.S. and Native American relations and the economic unfairness that it has created? Who knows that all Indians are not benefiting from “Casino Indians”?

Bob Smith
“Minimum Wage Art”

Respect

I worked with Cheyenne and Arapaho people on a documentary film. It was their story, and they told it, on film. One thing surfaced more than any other during the several years it took to get the job done. Respect. Respect has never really been shown to the Cheyenne and Arapaho people. If respect is shown, and it is meant, then, it will be most helpful to the Cheyenne and Arapaho people.

When writing about the Sand Creek Massacre, one should always interview Cheyenne and Arapaho people. They tell quite a story (check my award-winning documentary, “The Sand Creek Massacre”, and you will understand what I mean). If one doesn’t interview Cheyenne and Arapaho people, then they are showing disrespect to the Cheyenne and Arapaho.

Southern Cheyenne Chief Laird (Whistling Eagle)Cometsevah told me that over 400 Cheyenne people were murdered at Sand Creek. He also told me that the Arapaho people always traveled and camped about 8 miles away from the Cheyenne. He said the Arapaho were not at Sand Creek. He bases these statements on what has been passed down through his family. His great-great grandfather survived the Sand Creek Massacre.

The Cheyenne oral histories must also be respected, particularly since whoever presently writes about the Sand Creek Massacre, were not there on November 29, 1864. Cheyenne people’s ancestors were there. Cheyenne people’s ancestors passed their oral histories down through their families. So, these oral histories must be respected. They contain more facts about the Sand Creek Massacre than most Caucasians can find, many more facts.