Tag: Cheyenne

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Sand Creek Massacre Testimony About the Dead

John Smith testifying before a government committee on March 14, 1865:

“On the day of the attack. He asked me many questions about the chiefs who were there, and if I could recognize them if I saw them. I told him it was possible I might recollect the principal chiefs. They were terribly mutilated, lying there in the water and sand; most of them in the bed of the creek, dead and dying, making many struggles. They were so badly mutilated and covered with sand and water that it was very hard for me to tell one from another. However, I recognized some of them – among them the chief One Eye, who was employed by our government at $125 a month and rations to remain in the village as a spy. There was another called War Bonnet, who was here two years ago with me. There was another by the name of Standing-in-the-Water, and I supposed Black Kettle was among them, but it was not Black Kettle. There was one there of his size and dimensions in every way, but so tremendously mutilated that I was mistaken in him. I went out with Lieutenant Colonel Bowen, to see how many I could recognize.”
sand-creek-massacre-site-marker
Photo by Navajo Filmmaker Shonie de la Rosa. – Click on Photo to see all of it.

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Sand Creek Massacre Message to Methodists

In order to continue to cement relations between the Cheyenne people and the Methodist Church, the Methodist Church needs to show proper respect towards the Cheyenne people by talking with the Cheyenne people about the Sand Creek Massacre facts. In place of relying on Caucasian statistics, according to certain Cheyenne people and at least one of their chiefs, over 400 Cheyenne people were murdered at Sand Creek. Also, according to certain Cheyenne people and at least one of their chiefs, there were no Arapaho at Sand Creek during the massacre. The Arapaho always camped about 8 miles from the Cheyenne.

Donald L. Vasicek
Writer/Director/Producer of the award-winning documentary film, “The Sand Creek Massacre”
http://www.sandcreekmassacre.net

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Sand Creek Massacre Shows Media Failings with Objective Journalism

Media and others fail to mention that Southern Cheyenne Chief Laird (Whistling Eagle) Cometsevah told this filmmaker that there were over 400 Cheyenne murdered at Sand Creek. To make it clear, most media and others say: “…At least 150 were killed at Sand Creek…” There were more than 150 murdered, not killed at Sand Creek. The reason for this is the same reason Germans would not publicly discuss the Holocaust. They were ashamed of it. All competent journalists and the like should always interview Cheyenne people before they write something about the Sand Creek Massacre. To do anything less is to show disrespect to the Cheyenne people, something that has been going on since the 1825 Friendship Treaty promoted and signed by the Cheyenne people.

And for all of you media people out there, remember this, the most powerful kind of journalism is objective journalism. Anything less than that is writing and broadcasting with a Hollywood mentality. Don’t forget that.

Let’s get this right, folks. It’s time.