The making of Sand Creek Massacre documentary

interview with Mariel Rodriguez-McGill, clip from trailer for Rocky Mtn. PBS documentary “Sand Creek Massacre”

One hundred fifty years ago this November 29, the Sand Creek Massacre occurred in the southeast corner of the Colorado Territory.  At first, settlers in Denver cheered the returning Colorado Volunteers.  Then details of the slain women, children and elderly men emerged.  The infamy of the events that day reverberate to this day.  Rocky Mountain PBS producer Mariel Rodriguez-McGill visited “First Take with Lando and Chavis” to describe a new one-hour television documentary, airing Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

“The Cheyenne and Arapahoe encampment by Sandy Creek was peaceful, and under the protection of the U.S. Army, and around 200 individuals died that day,” explained Rodriguez-McGill.  ”A lot of people will drive near Eads, Colo. and not even know what occurred at Sand Creek.

“Twenty-two descendents of Sand Creek survivors spoke with us.  It’s still very much an open wound, and one of the main ways we can help in the healing process is education.  You won’t find these stories in the history books.”  

The Rocky Mountain PBS “Colorado Experience” web page has a video trailer to Sand Creek Massacre (directed by Julie Speer) and other episodes, as well as a link to Westword‘s interview with the descendants of Territorial Governor John Evans.

The Sand Creek Massacre Commemoration Commission has information and links to the weekend’s activities including the  Spiritual Healing Run / Walk, that begins at the national historic site and ends on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at the State Capitol in Denver.