Whereas, the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes were given 51.2 million acres covering three U.S. territories, including the Territory of Colorado; and
Whereas, in 1859 gold was discovered at Pike's Peak, Colorado, which was part of the land given to the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes through the Fort Laramie Treaty; and
Whereas, the U.S. government was powerless to stop the thousands of greedy miners who wantonly violated the provisions of the Fort Laramie Treaty and began to enter onto the Cheyenne and Arapaho lands to establish numerous mining towns such as Denver, Pueblo, and Colorado City; and
Whereas, the Territory of Colorado made it a public policy to "rid itself" of any tribe(s) of Native Americans through whatever means expedient; and coupled with rampant rumors of Indian uprisings, attacks were made on Indian villages where women were raped and food and other possessions taken; and
Whereas, one of the peace chiefs, Black Kettle, had met with the governor and with Colonel John Chivington to stop the attacks against one another and was assured by Governor Evans that hostilities would cease; and giving him a U.S. flag to fly over his village, Governor Evans asked Black Kettle and his people to camp for the winter at Sand Creek in southern Colorado; and
Whereas, on November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington, a Methodist lay preacher, did lead the 3rd Regiment of the 1st Colorado Volunteers into a pre-dawn attack upon Black Kettle and his peaceful village at Sand Creek, killing over 200 people, most of whom were women and children; and
Whereas, horrible acts of inhumanity were committed upon the dead in the Cheyenne village, with bodies mutilated and dismembered, and then taken to display in a parade through downtown Denver; and
Whereas, the history of the hostilities of the White men against the Indians of Colorado was fought purely for gold and riches, which the Indians had no use for, as their values were different from those of the White man; and
Whereas, this wrong against humanity was acknowledged by the U.S. government, resulting in the 39th Congress awarding the descendants of the survivors of this massacre millions of dollars; but to this date not one descendent has received any money award;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church do hereby declare that this wrong has gone unrectified long enough and support the efforts of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma in having the actions of the 39th Congress fulfilled; and
Be it further resolved, that the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church, through the Council of Bishops and the General Board of Church and Society, urge all members of Congress to respond to the efforts of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes in having this money award appropriated and disbursed to the Cheyenne and Arapaho people posthaste.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22487-CS-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference