Long delayed visit to Sand Creek Massacre site finally realized

Silence and Respect. Thus reads the first trail sign greeting visitors at the Sand Creek Massacre National HIstoric Site.

Thirty Niwot-area residents, both young and old, traveled to the site on Saturday, Sept. 25, by bus exactly 17 months after the original excursion was derailed by the pandemic. What originally started as two busloads of Niwotians dwindled to a little more than half a bus, due to COVID concerns and the difficulty of finding a rescheduled date that fit everyone's schedule, but the half-filled bus made it easy to maintain social distances.

Many of those unable to attend the rescheduled trip donated their registration fees, with all funds in excess of the trip costs designated for the Native American Rights Fund in Boulder. The trip was organized by the Niwot United Methodist Church, originally as part of the church's 150th anniversary activities in 2020. Sponsors, including Cottonwood Square Shopping Center, the Niwot Historical Society, the Niwot Community Association and the Rotary Club of Niwot covered part of the trip costs.

The group arrived at the remote site, 12 miles from the nearest highway via dirt roads, at noon. The travelers walked the half-mile trail to an overlook, and many continued on a 1.5-mile trail along the bluffs overlooking the site of the Nov. 29, 1864 massacre, where Col. John Chivington led approximately 600 cavalry, including artillery, in a dawn attack on a peaceful village of Cheyenne and Northern Arapaho camped there.

The creek bed, though dry most of the year, is lined with cottonwoods which show where the underground water still flows. Nearby springs made it a popular campground for Cheyenne and Northern Arapaho tribes in the 1800s.

According to a 40-minute presentation by Park Ranger Teri Jobe, the 750 mostly women, children and elderly Native Americans were attacked, murdered and mutilated in unspeakable ways over an eight-hour period by the U.S. troops. A replica of the 1850's era United States flag with 33 stars flies at the ranger station, an eerie reminder that the same U.S. flag with a white flag underneath was raised by the Native American chiefs at the outset of the attack, but the sign of peace was ignored by Chivington and most of his troops.

Jobe noted that the Sand Creek site is the only national park site which includes the word "massacre" in the name. She told of two soldiers, Captain Silas Soule and Lieutenant Joseph Cramer, who refused to join the fight. Their letters describing the massacre led the United States to acknowledge the atrocity less than a year later, and make reparations to the tribes. Depictions of the letters have been installed at the site.

Among the Native Americans who died of their wounds at Sand Creek was Chief Niwot, or Left Hand, of the Northern Arapaho. Col. Chivington, who organized a group of 100 volunteers, was also a Methodist minister at the time. The United Methodist Church has made efforts to atone for the actions of Chivington 150-plus years ago, donating seed money for a Sand Creek Learning Center in the nearby town of Eads in 2008, as well as issuing a formal apology in 1996. More recently, the church has taken part in ceremonies at the site with Native Americans in an effort to heal the wounds with descendants of the victims.

Rhonda Tucker, recently retired social studies teacher at Niwot High School, made the trip. "It was an awesome opportunity to learn more about our local history," she said. "I had a wonderful albeit sobering day." Tim Wise, former NBA Historic Projects coordinator, said, "It was enlightening. Makes a person reflect on their own humanity."

Jeff Server of Niwot was accompanied by his in-laws, retired teachers Don and Irene Reeb, Server said, "[It] was worth the trip. Ranger Teri gave a great presentation of the events leading up to the tragic incident." Gary Rabourn of Gunbarrel was the first to sign up for the trip, and was not disappointed. "The site was impressive," he said. "All around, quite an experience."

Kevin Schoonover, a Niwot High graduate and a member of the Niwot United Methodist Church, felt the trip was worthwhile and educational. Oliver Fowler, a junior at Niwot High School who also made the trek, agreed and planned to write an article about it for the school newspaper. While most of the travelers had not been to the site before, several had, including Tony and Vicki Maurer. "The last time we were here our time was limited and we weren't able to walk the trail to the bluff", Vicki Maurer said. "Walking the trail gave us more insight about the area and the atrocities which took place."