Colorado's dark history unfolded on November 29, 1864, when a Colorado militia launched a premeditated attack on an encampment of peaceful Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribal members. The devastating incident resulted in the estimated slaughter of 230 innocent people.
On that fateful day, over 500 members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes had gathered near Sand Creek, hoping to negotiate with US officials regarding the recent loss of land due to the Sand Creek Massacre. However, their attempts at peace were brutally cut short as a group of Colorado militiamen, under the command of Col. John Chivington, descended upon them with gunfire and torches.
The militia's unprovoked attack was part of a larger pattern of violence against Native American tribes in the region. The US government had been pushing for the forced relocation of these communities, leading to numerous conflicts and massacres throughout the 19th century.
Today, a national historic site dedicated to the victims of this tragedy stands as a poignant reminder of the dark history that continues to shape America's relationship with Native American communities.
On that fateful day, over 500 members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes had gathered near Sand Creek, hoping to negotiate with US officials regarding the recent loss of land due to the Sand Creek Massacre. However, their attempts at peace were brutally cut short as a group of Colorado militiamen, under the command of Col. John Chivington, descended upon them with gunfire and torches.
The militia's unprovoked attack was part of a larger pattern of violence against Native American tribes in the region. The US government had been pushing for the forced relocation of these communities, leading to numerous conflicts and massacres throughout the 19th century.
Today, a national historic site dedicated to the victims of this tragedy stands as a poignant reminder of the dark history that continues to shape America's relationship with Native American communities.
. But honestly, Col Chivington, he's like a super complex dude 
. People are always hating on him and saying he's some kinda monster, but what if he was just trying to protect his community? I mean, we know the US government was pushing for relocation and all that drama, so maybe Chivington felt like he had no other choice 
.
. That's a lot of innocent lives lost. But sometimes I feel like we're more focused on demonizing the bad guys rather than understanding the complexities of the situation 
. Chivington might've had his flaws, but he wasn't just some evil guy who wanted to hurt people for the sake of it 
. We need to keep having these kinds of conversations and try to see things from different perspectives 
.
But maybe commemorating it in a respectful way can be a step towards healing and making amends? And also, I think we should remember that this incident is still having an impact on Native American communities today... 
So yeah, let's try to get the balance right here... 
like the sand creek massacre was literally just 161 years ago and already we're talkin about makin national historic sites to honor the victims 
. I wonder what would've happened if they just stayed away from the US officials? but then again, who knows what their lives were like before the attack... it's like, a whole different world back then 
. can someone explain to me why the US government was pushing for these forced relocations?