Sand Creek and the Tragic Finish of a Lifeway

The historical past that culminated in the long run of a lifeway begins with the arrival of Algonquin-speaking peoples in North America, proceeds by way of the emergence of the Cheyennes and Arapahos on the Central Plains, and ends with the incursion of white individuals looking for land and gold. Starting within the earliest days of the Southern Cheyennes, Kraft brings the voices of the previous to bear on the occasions resulting in the brutal homicide of individuals and its disastrous aftermath. By means of their testimony and their deeds as reported by contemporaries, main and supporting gamers give us a broad and nuanced view of the invention of gold on Cheyenne and Arapaho land within the 1850s, adopted by the land theft condoned by the U.S. authorities. The peace treaties and perfidy, the unfolding bloodbath and the investigations that adopted, the devastating finish of the Indians’ already-circumscribed freedom—all are revealed by way of the eyes of presidency officers, newspapers, and the navy; Cheyennes and Arapahos who sought peace with or who fought Anglo-Individuals; whites and Indians who intermarried and their offspring; and whites who dared to query what they thought of heinous actions.

As instructive as it’s harrowing, the historical past recounted right here lives on within the telling, together with a lifestyle destroyed in all however cultural reminiscence. To that reminiscence this ebook provides eloquent, resonating voice.