[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 135 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1921-E1922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SAND CREEK MASSACRE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 25, 2000

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, on November 29, 1864, John M. Chivington 
and his troops invaded the Native American village of Sand Creek in 
southern Colorado. At least 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians were 
murdered along the banks of Sand Creek. The stories of this massacre 
have been passed down through generations, however, the victims have 
not received the recognition they deserve.
  Last year the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Study Act 
was signed into law. This Act directed the National Park Service to 
study, survey, and locate the site of the Sand Creek Massacre and 
assess the suitability of making the site a part of the National Park 
Service. From this study, the Park Service identified 12,480 acres as 
the site of the massacre.
  Since then, Senator Campbell and I introduced legislation to 
designate the 12,480 acres as a National Historic Site. I have worked 
closely with the Kiowa County Commissioners as well as the landowners 
within the boundaries of the site to insure private property rights are 
protected. While the legislation authorizes the Park Service to 
negotiate for property from willing sellers only, traditional 
agricultural operations inside the national historic site will continue 
until the private property owners decide to sell their land. 
Additionally,

[[Page E1922]]

the bill will grant decedents of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes access 
to allow traditional observances on the land.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe this legislation is long overdue, and this 
bill appropriately recognizes the massacre.

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