Indigenous Rights Prayer Walk, ‘The Longest Walk 2’ to hold Sunrise Gathering and Prayer Vigil at Sand Creek Massacre Site

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            Aislyn Colgan   
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Indigenous Rights Prayer Walk, ‘The Longest Walk 2’ to hold Sunrise Gathering and Prayer Vigil at Sand Creek Massacre Site

EADS, CO- On Saturday, April 5, more than 50 participants of the Longest Walk 2 will embark on a spiritual walk and prayer gathering at the Sacred Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. The Longest Walk 2 will stop during their journey to the site and make prayer offerings 4 times before arriving for a Sunrise Gathering and Prayer Vigil. The walkers will arrive at Sand Creek to remember the massacre of over 150 elderly men, women and children of Cheyenne and Arapahoe that occurred there and offer their prayers to the descendants of this nationally recognized massacre.

The Longest Walk 2, comprised of representatives from many Native tribes and their allies, is a five- month trans-continental walk for environmental protection and Native American rights traveling on foot from San Francisco, CA to Washington D.C. and covering more than 8,000 miles in total of the northern and southern routes.  The Longest Walk 2 also marks the 30^th anniversary of the original Longest Walk of 1978 that resulted in historic changes for Native Americans. People from all over the world are joining the walk with its peaceful and spiritual call to action to protect Mother Earth and defend Human Rights.

The walk will arrive in Washington, D.C. on July 11, 2008, bringing attention to issues of environmental injustice, protection of sacred sites, cultural survival, youth empowerment, and eroding Native American rights shared along the route.  As a result of the first Longest Walk held in 1978, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (1978) was passed and 11 legislative bills that would have abrogated native treaties were defeated. 

The Northern Route, covering the original 1978 route, has journeyed to Sand Creek for the weekend to offer support, prayers, and collect statements from local Indigenous communities. They will bring the issues of sacred site desecration and environmental destruction to the US Government upon arrival in Washington D.C. 

The Longest Walk 2 Northern Route visited Denver, CO on March 24^th and stopped at the Sand Creek Massacre Plaque in front of the State Capitol, where Calvin Magpie, a walker and descendant of Cheyenne and Arapahoe who were massacred there, offered his prayers in honor of their losses. He recounted the tragedy in which Colorado Militia attacked peaceful tribes who had already surrendered and were heading to reservations in Oklahoma to settle.

The town of Eads, CO has offered its hospitality in hosting the walkers at their fairgrounds and community center from Thursday- Sunday nights. The Eads community, Chamber of Commerce, volunteers from Project Lighthouse in Monument, CO, and many more volunteers from Lamar, Denver, and Pueblo will travel there for the weekend to offer their support and help host feeds in honor of the occasion. The art gallery Artists of the Plains in Eads will host an art show Saturday by Denver youth from the Indigenous Youth Sovereignty Project for a showing entitled “Healing Through the Next Generations” from 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon there will also be a showing of the 20 minute documentary detailing the Sand Creek Massacre at the community center.

Date/ Times:

Saturday, April 5^th

4:00 a.m. Longest Walk 2 will begin Spiritual Walk to Sand Creek Massacre Site

6:30 a.m. Walk will arrive at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site for Sunrise Prayer in Honor & Protection of Sand Creek Sacred Site.

WHERE:  Walking starts at 2.5 mi north of CO 96 near Chivington, CO, on County Rd 54, starting 5 miles out from Sacred Site.  

Sand Creek Site directions found at: http://www.nps.gov/sand/planyourvisit/directions.htm

WHO:  Sand Creek Massacre Descendants; Longest Walk 2 representatives including Jimbo Simmons, coordinator of the Northern Route of The Longest Walk 2; Paul Owns the Sabre; Calvin Magpie, walker and descendant and more.

For a complete itinerary, specific directions and additional information please visit: www.longestwalk.org. 

 *Photo Opportunities: More than 50 Participants of the Longest Walk 2, Traditional Drummers and Singers, Volunteers from all over the state, and Colorful Banners.