History

A Legacy of Pain
In 1864, Cheyenne peace chiefs passed through Denver heading for a sanctuary which turned into a place of death. Lead by an ordained minister, Col. John Chivington, the Sand Creek massacre was one of hundreds of such incidents. People of faith stood silent then, but now we have an opportunity to help reconcile.

In 1860, the U.S. government ordered military troops on the frontier to collect the skulls and other remains of Native Americans and ship them to Washington, D.C., or scientific study. Remains - like those of the Cheyenne peace chiefs of the Sand Creek, Colorado massacre - were among thousands that ended up in displays as well as on dusty shelves and in forgotten drawers in depositories, museums, and universities across the country.

An Act of Hope
In 1990, Congress passed the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, requiring the return of human remains and sacred objects to Native American tribes and nations from which they came.

Yet today over 110,000 remains cannot be identified as belonging to a particular tribe. These once beloved mothers, fathers, friends, and children are awaiting to be returned, honored, and buried with dignity.