1. Settlement and American Indians

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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."

15. 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

16. Sand Creek Today

17. 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

18. 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