Re: “Sand Creek Massacre: Colorado’s land grab from Native tribes,” Nov. 23 Perspective story.
Given the multiple sources of credible evidence that the Colorado governor at that time, John Evans, was responsible in part for this event, maybe the name of Mount Evans should be changed. There’s ongoing clamor to change the name of the Washington Redskins to reflect a greater sensitivity as to how the Native Americas were unjustly treated, so why not be as sensitive?
Martin Allen, Centennial
This letter was published in the Dec. 7 edition.Col. John Chivington (Denver Public Library)
Whether or not there is complete agreement on the University of Denver’s harsh assessment of one of their founders, Gov. John Evans, in the Sand Creek Massacre, it seems that at the very least we should not be honoring him or Col. John Chivington with majestic landmarks such as Mount Evans, and a statue on the grounds of the State Capitol (Chivington). The DU report suggests a memorial on campus and scholarships for Indian students as some ways to atone for the massacre.
I have a better idea: White Antelope, a peaceable Cheyenne Indian chief, died that day. What about this sign on Mount Evans: “White Antelope Mountain.” And below it: (Mount Evans).
Beverly Bennett, Aurora
Re: “Why is Chivington honored with a statue?,” Nov. 29 Open Forum.
Why does the letter-writer make the assumption that the statue of the Civil War soldier in front of the State Capitol represents Col. John Chivington? The statue, which was designed by Capt. John D. Howland, represents all Coloradans who fought in the Civil War (including Chivington, who is widely regarded as being “the Hero of Glorieta” before he became “the Butcher of Sand Creek” two years later).
Trying to distance the monument from a reference to Sand Creek that lists it as a “battle,” a latter plaque near the monument says “By designating Sand Creek a battle, the monumentap designers mischaracterized the actual events. Protests led by some Sand Creek descendants and others throughout the twentieth century have led to the widespread recognition of the tragedy as the Sand Creek Massacre.”
Perhaps a better question is, “Why is there a town named Chivington a few miles from the massacre site?”
Flint Whitlock, Denver
This letter was published in the Dec. 7 edition.
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