[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 160 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10479-S10480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BLUE WATER CREEK MASSACRE

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I wish to speak in regards 
to the Blue Water Creek Massacre of 1855. On September 3, 1855, while 
camped near the Blue Water Creek in present day Nebraska, a group of 
Lakota were attacked by COL William S. Harney and his troops. According 
to Army records, 86 Lakota were killed and 70 captured. The Battle of 
Blue Water Creek is also known as the Battle of Ash Hollow or the 
Harney Massacre according to the Nebraska State Historical Society, 
which maintains a historical marker, along U.S. 26, 1\1/2\ miles west 
of Lewellen, NE.
  There are several historical accounts of what transpired that day in 
1855 and the Little Thunder Tiospaye contacted me because they seek to 
commemorate and to preserve for future generations the history 
surrounding Mni To Wakpala--Blue Water Creek. They are the direct 
lineal descendants of Wakinyan Cikala--Little Thunder--a man who was 
amongst the leaders of that Lakota camp destroyed 153 years ago. 
Additional leaders who survived that morning include Iron Shell, 
Spotted Tail, and Red Leaf, each of whom also bore lineal descendants 
living upon Sicangu territories today.
  According to the family, oral history passed down through generations 
tells the story of the younger Little Thunder, a boy who survived the 
Massacre and subsequently journeyed to join his relatives once again. 
Without his survival, the Little Thunder Tiospaye

[[Page S10480]]

would not exist today. I would like to recognize their work as they 
seek to honor their ancestors by collecting historical accounts, and 
locating important artifacts from this time in history. Accordingly, 
the Lakota language includes an expression that fits their mission: 
Hecel lena Oyate kin nipi kte, so that our people may live.

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