Editor’s note: The original version of this story that was published on April 2nd, 2018, used the words “responsible” and “commanded” in relation to the actions of John Evans during the time of the Sand Creek Massacre. This is inaccurate, and we’ve updated this story to reflect the facts: John Evans did not command the attack, nor was he responsible for the attack. In fact, a study commissioned by the University of Denver found that John Evans was culpable for the events at Sand Creek through a series of events during his leadership of the Colorado Territory. The report is available online for those who would like to learn more.
On April 2, Chancellor Rebecca Chopp, Provost Gregg Kvistad and representatives of the three Native Nations participated in a ceremony to raise the tribal flags of the Northern Cheyenne, Northern Arapaho and Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations over the DU campus to recognize the traditional homelands of Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples.
Chancellor Chopp began the ceremony by acknowledging DU’s past and by looking forward in the relationship with Native peoples. “Although we understand that the road ahead is long, and we have so much further to go on this difficult journey,” said Chopp. “This extraordinary occasion testifies to the resilience and persistence of Native people, while speaking to [an] inherent generosity, compassion and forgiveness. These communities hold up as a source of inspiration for us all.”
Elders from the tribes talked about the trauma inflicted by the Sand Creek Massacre. According to Waylon Rogers, a tribal speaker, every time he goes to Sand Creek, he has a heavy hear, a lot of anger and a lot of pain. “Sand Creek was the beginning of a lot of our problems. We were wounded, and we have never recovered,” said Rogers. “What Sand Creek did to a lot of us was historical trauma, transgenerational trauma. Every day I see my people suffering and it all started from Sand Creek.”
The three tribal Nations’ flags now hang in the north side of Driscoll Bridge alongside the flags of the U.S., the State of Colorado and the DU.
This is a sensitive topic for many at DU, especially in light of the independent inquiry regarding the role of DU founder John Evans in the massacre. Evans, was serving both as governor of the Colorado Territory and as territorial superintendent of Indian affairs when the Sand Creek Massacre occurred. In that attack a group of U.S. militia attacked and killed an estimated 160 women, children and elderly members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.
As reported on November 3, 2014, by the University of Denver magazine, the John Evans Study Committee conducted an independent inquiry into the role of John Evans in the Sand Creek Massacre.
The DU report focuses on events directly leading up to the massacre at Sand Creek and compares Evans’ leadership as superintendent of Indian affairs with that of those holding similar positions in Utah and Nevada. The DU report concludes that John Evans was culpable for the Sand Creek Massacre.
The three tribal Nation flags now hang in the north side of Driscoll Bridge alongside the flags of the United States of America, the State of Colorado and the University of Denver.
