Our Work

  • We support tribal initiatives to rename landmarks bearing the names of massacre perpetrators, promote Tribal consultation and inclusion in planning for projects that may affect culturally sensitive lands related to the Sand Creek Massacre, serve as a platform to elevate voices of Sand Creek Massacre descendants.

  • We support initiatives to aid in development of curricula for teaching about the Sand Creek Massacre in public and tribal schools.

  • We support extensive research to document, preserve and make accessible the most comprehensive genealogical record of Sand Creek Massacre descendants known to exist. Conducted by researcher Craig Moore in direct consultation with Cheyenne and Arapaho historians, elders and descendants over several decades, the research traces the lineages of thousands of massacre victims and survivor descendants over multiple generations.

  • We establish partnerships with other organizations and universities with an interest in the Sand Creek Massacre, including tribal colleges and preservation offices. 

  • We develop and fund public programming about the massacre, including a speaker series, panel discussions, tribal initiatives, exhibits and commemorative events. Maintain a social media presence about our activities and those of partner organizations.

  • Documenting and preserving tribal oral histories are urgent needs. The number of fluent Cheyenne and Arapaho speakers is dwindling, as is the oldest generation of direct descendants to whom oral histories of the Sand Creek Massacre have been passed down. These narratives are essential to understanding the massacre, its context and consequences.

  • We acquire and digitize archival materials from diverse institutions and private individuals that examine the context and legacy of the Sand Creek Massacre. We also assist the National Park Service in developing the Center for Sand Creek Massacre Studies to make these digital archives accessible to researchers, students and descendants.

Our Journey

The National Park Service in partnership with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, the Northern Arapaho Tribe, and the State of Colorado, identify the location and extent of the Sand Creek Massacre.

1999

Congress authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.

2000

Tribal representatives and National Park Service staff conceive the concept of the Center for Sand Creek Massacre Studies housed within the Sand Creek Massacre Foundation.

2005

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is dedicated and opened to the public.

2007

The National Park System and tribal representatives complete the general management plan for the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.

2015

The Sand Creek Massacre Foundation is incorporated as the nonprofit partner of the National Historic Site. The permanent administrative and visitor center opens in Eads, Colorado, including the Center for Sand Creek Massacre Studies and the foundation’s office.

2020