Settlement and American Indians

Indians welcome prospectors Chief Little Raven Southern Arapaho Welcomed prospectors to Auraria and Denver Shared the land, water, grass and trees Left Hand Another Arapaho chief Lived near Boulder Kind and shared his knowledge of the area

Different Ideas American Indians did not believe in owning land Settlers believed the land was for use It was a natural resource To be bought and sold to the highest bidder Farmers and Ranchers Followed the miners Plowed up the prairie and fenced in the land Their cattle and sheep ate the grass making the buffalo disappear more Farmers wanted the Indians to leave

Different ideas Indians were forced into smaller and smaller areas Settlers take the best land with the best water, trees and animals to hunt

Broken Promises Settlers want to avoid trouble US government leaders meet with Indian leaders To form treaties US Government will give Indians money, food and land In exchange for the land

Broken Promises Treaties are a Great idea Indians hardly ever saw the money or food for the land that was given/ taken away The Government hardly ever honored their treaty agreements When gold was found on land that the Indians were originally given was taken away White settlers/prospectors always had the backing of the government Native Americans quickly learned they could not trust the US Government

Indian Wars begin Trouble on the plains Indians attack settlers who were on Indian land Indians attacked wagon trains that were on their land usually for supplies or for the cattle Requests are made by the settlers to the US government Soldiers can’t help they are fighting in the Civil War

Civil War and Indian Wars The Civil War left Colorado defenseless to supply raids in Cheyenne and Arapaho territories. Certain factions, including the militant Dog Soldiers, began to intensify their supply raids. The Colorado regiment was raised to prevent Confederate aggression, but after Glorietta was charged with maintaining order between the settlers and the Indians. In 1864, the 3rd Colorado was formed placed under the control of John Chivington.

Colorado Reaction The Governor of Colorado Territory (Evans) ordered Native Americans to report to Military Forts Indians were to turn in their weapons and receive food in exchange Governor warns Indians who did not come in he would send military troops after them

Sand Creek Background 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie: Gave vast territories to Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes between North Platte River and Arkansas River. Pikes Peak gold rush sent thousands of settlers across Arapahoe and Cheyenne lands.

More Background Arapahos and Cheyenne suffered through a terrible winter There wasn’t enough food on their reaming lands Chief Little Raven and Chief Black Kettle take their tribes to Fort Lyon Not enough room at Fort Lyon Leader of the fort tells Indians to go camp near by at Sand Creek Indians leave the fort and create a community at Sand Creek They fly an American flag and a white flag in the middle of the community

Sand creek- Day of On November 29, 1864 Chief Black Kettle and Chief Little Raven and their tribes of around 800 Indians (mostly women and children) were attacked by the 3rd Colorado. 163 Native Americans were killed. 110 were women or children. They were defenseless 24 Americans were killed Most were killed by friendly fire.

The Aftermath Little Raven escaped with some of his people They were caught and placed on reservations Arapaho Indians were forced to move to WY and OK Young Cheyenne fought back Known as Dog Soldiers They burned ranches and stagecoach stations The Whites had more men and better weapons  losing battle Eventually all Cheyenne Indians are forced onto reservations outside of CO

Investigation Initially the attack was reported as a victory over a brave opponent. After a few weeks, though, eye witnesses began to come forward, telling the truth about what really happened. This led to a federal investigation. The investigation did not lead to any charges, but Chivington was forced to leave Colorado and Evans resigned from the cover up. Washington, December 20, 1864 "The affair at Fort Lyon, Colorado, in which Colonel Chivington destroyed a large Indian village, and all its inhabitants, is to be made the subject of congressional investigation. Letters received from high officials in Colorado say that the Indians were killed after surrendering, and that a large proportion of them were women and children."

Silas Soule Person of Interest 1838-1865 Major in Chivington’s army Expected to obey orders At Sand Creek Did not participate in the raid Knew the Indians were peaceful Refused to kill them When he returned to Denver Spread word that of what Chivington REALLY did Wrote a letter to a friend speaking of the cruelty shown to the Indians that day Was shot a few days after returning to Denver Buried at Denver’s Riverside Cemetery Indians gather at his grave every year to pay respect to his bravery Person of Interest Silas Soule

Sand Creek Today

Summit Springs Five years after Sand Creek Massacre A band of Dog Soldiers vs US Military Dog Soldiers took two white women US army follows them to Summit Springs Solders kill 53 Cheyenne Including Chief Tall Bull The US Soldiers burned the Indian village and destroyed everything This was the last Indian battle in eastern CO

Reservations and an New way of Life Area of forced relocation for Native Americans Usually on land that no one wanted and far away from the Natives home land Culture Change Many Indians were forced to give up their old ways Cut their hair, no dances, could not speak, wear different clothing, taught to farm, live in houses, etc. Children Taken from the reservation and placed in special schools Do not learn their native language, taught to read and write, are kept away from their families for years