FRIDAY, September 3rd, 2010 is the 155th Anniversary of the Massacre on Blue Water Creek.
JOIN us on the LAST DAY of this 210-MILE JOURNEY
on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd at 9:00 A.M. (central time) for a 12-MILE WALK
followed by PRAYERS at 2 P.M. & a DINNER GATHERING and PRESENTATION at 4 P.M.
Click Here For More Info
CLICK FOR: WALK REPORT & UPDATES:
Please Click on Historical Marker to view a larger version.
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WHAT: . .......INAUGURAL MEMORIAL WALK
WHO: ........All people are invited to join the descendents of historic tribal leaders Conquering Bear, Little .........................Thunder, Spotted Tail, Iron Shell and Red Leaf.
WHY: ........To commemorate the 1855 Blue Water Creek Massacre (see PURPOSES)
WHERE:.. .......Starting Point: Beginning in Lewellen, Nebraska at the Blue Water Creek Massacre Site, located .........................approximately 6 miles.north of state historical marker for Blue Water Creek Battle. Follow gravel road. .........................Signs will be posted. CLICK HERE for directions to starting point
.........................Ending Point: The walk will END at the White Horse Cemetery located 1 mile south off SD Hwy 18, .........................near mile marker 187 (sign will be posted).
.........................The 210 Mile Route In-Between: CLICK HERE For Daily Route & Location Schedule.
.........................AT THE END of the WALK, THERE WILL BE A PRAYER at the White Horse Cemetary.
WHEN: ........August 25th to September 3, 2010
.........................Opening Prayers at Massacre site at 6 A.M. on Aug. 25th, followed by Memorial Walk. Closing Prayers .........................on.Sept. 3rd at White Horse Cemetary, followed by a Gathering & Celebration on Private Lands on the .........................Rosebud Reservation.
HOW: ... ....Walk, Run, Bike Ride, Horse Ride
DISTANCE: ....210 Miles or 20-25 Miles a day / As much as anyone can or wishes to do.
.........................PEOPLE CAN JOIN IN AT ANY POINT IN THE WALK. |
PURPOSES of this Memorial Walk:
- To raise awareness of the Blue Water Creek Massacre of 1855
- To remember & honor the young 12-year old child, Little Thunder, who walked 210 miles after his mother was killed during the Blue Water Creek Battle, from Lewellen to southern South Dakota, in order to find family relations
- To educate the public about the Blue Water Creek Massacre from the point of view of some surviving descendents who now reside on the Rosebud Reservation
- To commemorate and honor these great tribal leaders - Little Thunder, Conquering Bear, Spotted Tail, Iron Shell and Red Leaf.
- To invite the youth of Rosebud and other Native American communities to participate in what has the potential to be a spiritual healing and strengthening experience
- To invite all people from all communities to join in a physically and emotionally challenging, demanding long-distance walk that is part of Nebraska history
- For prayer and healing
- For celebration of survival and accomplishment at the end of the walk
- For fitness -- to do something healthy and challenging for yourself
- To bring all communities together, Indian and non-Indian, in unity, for a peaceful walk.
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Click On this Image for a Telling and Poignant Keepsake 8" X 11" Poster/Flyer of this Inaugural 2010 Memorial Walk to Print & Post.
It includes the 10-DAY ROUTE SCHEDULE, as well as a Daily Agenda and Important Info.(Check website, though, for any Daily Updates).
Flyer designed by Artist Carla Rae Marshall of Tipistola Media.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2010 - 12-MILE CONCLUSION OF WALK -
BEGINS AT 9 A.M. CENTRAL TIME
Remembrance...........Prayer..............Connection.............Survival.............Healing.............Strength............Celebration..............Thanks.
We welcome ALL PEOPLE to WALK with us for the conclusion of the MEMORIAL WALK. You're invited to join the descendents of historic tribal leaders Conquering Bear, Little Thunder, Spotted Tail, Iron Shell and Red Leaf for 12 MILES, followed by ceremony, prayer and a gathering. We are meeting at 9:00 A.M Central Time at the Bennett-Todd County line on Highway 18 on Friday, September 3rd. You may bicycle, run, walk or horseback ride, if you wish. We will be walking to the White Horse Cemetary, where our ancestor Little Thunder, who survived the Blue Water Creek 1855 Massacre, is buried. We will meet at the cemetary at approximately 2 P.M.Central Time, during which there will be a Ceremony and Prayer. The cemetary is located 3 miles west of Parmalee Junction at the Old White Horse Camp and 1 mile south off SD Hwy 18, near mile marker 187 (a sign will be posted). This will be followed by an informative, celebratory GATHERING with a DINNER OF THANKS at approximately 4 P.M. Central Time . The GATHERING will be held on land adjacent to the White Horse Dam. At the gathering, there will be a presentation about the the Blue Water Creek Massacre of 1855, the Congressionl Record of 2008, and an explanation of the purposes for this Memorial Walk. We hope to see you there.
WALK REPORT & UPDATES:
(Check back daily).
PRE-WALK CEREMONY
Before the walk began, Medicine Man Roy Stone, Senior, conducted a Ceremony
during which spiritual communication, prayers and sacred rituals took place. |
DAY 1: Wednesday, Aug. 25th. News Story on KNOP-TV NEWS 2 ( North Platte, NE) at 6 and 10 p.m. CLICK HERE for coverage.
Participants for all or part of the day's walk included Phil Little Thunder, Matthew Little Thunder, Sr., Matthew Little Thunder, Jr. .....................Maggie Little Thunder, Bridget Little Thunder ,Jean Jensen and Dennis Miller.
......................31 MILES WALKED.
DAY 2: Thursday, Aug. 26th. By approximately 1:45 p.m., walkers are close to Arthur, NE.Participants for the day included Phil Little ......................Thunder, Matthew Little Thunder, Sr., Matthew Little Thunder, Jr. and .Maggie Little Thunder. Special thanks to 17-year old .......................Maggie Little Thunder for providing the.day's main inspiration. By the end of .the day, walkers were 21 miles south of .......................Hyannis, NE
.......................35 MILES WALKED
DAY 3: Friday, August 27th. New Participant: Gary Little Thunder, By 6 p.m., mountain time, walkers are nearing the Cherry County line, .......................north of Hyannis on Rt. 61 and have covered twenty-seven miles in total, relay-style.
....................... 27 MILES WALKED.
DAY 4: Saturday, August 28th. In the morning, Medicine Man Roy Stone, Snr. and two helpers, Ira and Russel joined the group and .......................conducted another prayer ceremony. By approximately 5:15 p.m., mountain time, walkers & runners were 5 miles from the .......................South Dakota stateline, near Merriman, Nebraska and 16 miles from Martin, S.D., with plans to camp at the park in .......................Merriman. Gary Little Thunder and Matthew Little Thunder, Senior ran part of the day's journey.
.......................55 MILES WALKED & RAN.
DAY 5: Sunday, August 29th. New participants for the day included Totes, Nora and Mary, Karen Little Thunder and Roselie Little .......................Thunder. By late afternoon, people had travelled from Merriman, NE, crossed the state border into South Dakota, reached .......................Martin, South Dakota, and were heading towards Vetal, S.D. on Highway 18.
.......................18 MILES WALKED
DAY 6: Monday, August 30th. By 6 p.m. walkers reached the County Line between Bennett and Todd Counties. Weather was good for .......................walking - cloudy and with a nice, cool breeze offerring walkers relief from the extreme heat over the past few days. .......................New Participants for the day were 6-year old Chante Little Thunder, 76-year old Rose Little Thunder, Eva Little Thunder, .......................Edna Little Thunder, Abby Little Thunder and Adrian Little Thunder.
.......................26 MILES WALKED.
.......................Today's walk ended at an entry point to the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, located at the Bennett-Todd County Line.
.......................Medicine Man Roy Stone, Snr. was in attendance at the end of the walk to offer spiritual prayers for when the walk resumes .......................on Friday at 9:00 A.M.
...................... IMPORTANT NOTE: The majority of the Memorial Walk through Nebraska to the start of the Rosebud Reservation was .......................completed 3 days ahead of the estimated schedule. The WALK will RESUME on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD between 9:00 .......................and 9:30 A.M. at the Bennett-Todd County line on Highway 18. This is a 12-MILE WALK to the White Horse Cemetary at .......................the White Horse Camp in the Sioux Indian Rosebud Reservation, located 1 mile south off SD Hwy 18, near mile marker .......................187 (a sign will be posted).
CONCLUSION OF THE WALK ENDS WITH A CEREMONY & GATHERING : THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to join in for a Ceremony, being held Friday afternoon, September 3rd, at the White Horse Cemetary, where ancestor Little Thunder is buried. This will be followed by an informative celebratory GATHERING with a dinner of thanks. The GATHERING will be held on land adjacent to the White Horse Dam. At the gathering, there will be a presentation about the the Blue Water Creek Massacre of 1855, the Congressionl Record of 2008, and an explanation of the purposes for this Memorial Walk.
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PLEASE NOTE: The public is also invited to a gathering the day before the walk begins:
GATHERING at 8 P.M. Tuesday, August 24, 2010:
Location to be determined. Please check back. Participants can make arrangements to camp out the day before the walk at Little Thunder Campground on Lake McConaughy by calling (402) 471-1414 or via e-mail at ngpc.reservations@nebraska.gov
DIRECTIONS & MAPS
CLICK HERE to view a GENERAL MAP of the ENTIRE 210-MILE JOURNEY from the Blue Water Creek Massacre Site located 7 miles north of Lewellen, travelling east then north to the White Horse Cemetary on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.
To get to the Starting Point: (MASSACRE SITE) Highway 26 one mile west of Lewellen turn NORTH (right if you are leaving Lewellen/left if you are coming from Oshkosh) onto Road 197. Follow Road 197 about 5 miles north and west until you cross Blue Creek. The starting point (massacre site) is across the creek west and north. It’s a country road; cars should park along side of the road. ATV’s or 4-wheel drive vehicles may go onto the pasture for parking.
CLICK HERE to View or Print Map of How to Get to Starting Point .....(BLUE WATER CREEK MASSACRE SITE)
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
Meals, mileage, and lodging are individual responsibilities. Limited bottled water and fresh fruit will be available to all walkers. GATHERING time each day is 6:00 a.m. mountain time. Group will camp every night along the route; modern facilities are not available. Talking circles will be held each evening.
This event is open to the general public and all are welcome to walk. Each morning will begin with 1 to 2 hours of reflective time as a gentle pace is followed. Reflective safety gear is strongly recommended. Carry own water!
Riders, bikers, and runners are welcome, particularly upon entering the Reservation on the morning of the final day. However, we will adhere to a walking pace with a flag in the forefront at all times. Estimated progress is 20-25 miles per day with intermittent walkers welcome to join at any given point during this journey.
Projected finish of Walk is Friday, September 3, 2010. In the event the Walk is completed earlier than scheduled, an interim will be taken and the activities scheduled for September 3rd will take place on that day at Old White Horse Camp on the Rosebud Reservation. September 3rd is the 155th anniversary of the Massacre on Blue Water Creek.
Campsites will be along the route and/or at various city parks. Upon completion of walk, camping is available at Old White Horse Camp (no facilities) and Ghost Hawk Park, which is 4 miles west of Rosebud, SD.
Event organizers and sponsors are not responsible for accidents, thefts, injuries.
DAILY ROUTE & LOCATION SCHEDULE for 210-MILE MEMORIAL WALK:
Day 1: Wednesday, August 25 WALK BEGINS
.. GATHER at 6:00 a.m. on the Blue Water Massacre Site at the Little Thunder Sanctuary.
................ Start walking EAST from Blue Water Creek Massacre Site, on STATE ROUTE 92, which parallels Highway 26, towards Lake.............. .................McConaughy. Campsite to be announced, but will likely be a campground near the LAKE. Please check back.
Day 2: GATHER on the selected campsite; CONTINUE WALKING northward toward Hyannis.
Day 3: GATHER on the selected campsite; RESUME WALKING northward toward Hyannis.
Day 4: GATHER at the Hyannis City Park. RESUME WALKING northward on NE Hwy 61 toward Merriman, Nebraska. END between Hyannis .................and Merriman.
Day 5: GATHER at the selected campsite. RESUME WALKING north on NE Hwy 61.
Day 6: GATHER at the selected campsite. RESUME WALKING north on NE Hwy 61. END at Merriman, NE.
Day 7: GATHER at Merriman City Park. RESUME WALKING north toward Martin. END at Martin, SD.
Day 8: GATHER at Martin City Park. RESUME WALKING north then eastward along old SD Hwy 18 out of Martin. End at Vetal, SD.
Day 9: GATHER at Vetal, SD. RESUME WALKING east on Hwy 18 toward the Rosebud Reservation. END at the Rosebud Reservation ..................boundary (which is also Todd-Bennett County line).
Day 10: GATHER at the County Line. RESUME WALKING east on SD Hwy 18. END WALK at White Horse Cemetery located 1 mile south off ..................SD Hwy 18, near mile marker 187 (sign will be posted).
FURTHER INFORMATION:
CAMPING: Can bring tents/sleeping bags and sleep overnight at campgrounds
for those who wish to participate for more than one day.
FOOD: Pack your own meals, snacks (energy bars, nuts, fruit) and drinks.
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS: Available to drive people from point to point to retrieve cars along way, and help transport tents/sleeping bags.
MORE VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME: If anyone has an interest in volunteering their time to help in any way, you may contact us at any of the numbers below, according to where you are calling from.
CONTACT NUMBERS:
LEWELLEN, Nebraska: Jean Jensen at Volunteers of America (308) 778-5548 (9am-5pm mtn. time)
ROSEBUD, South Dakota: Rosebud Sioux Tribe at (605) 747-2381 (8am-5pm central time).
ONSITE: Phil Little Thunder Sr. at 605-828-0112
Karen Little Thunder
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Other Links:
We welcome you to read a story written by Karen Little Thunder, titled, "One Morning in Early September", published in Fall 2008 Edition,
Tribal College Journal. www.tribalcollegejournal.org
Congressional Record:
We invite you to read Senator Johnson's presentation to the Congress on October 2, 2008, during which he spoke of the history of the Blue Water Creek Massacre in 1855 (also known as the Battle of Ash Hollow and the Battle of Blue Water Creek). He also spoke, on behalf of the Little Thunder Tiospaye, of the work they are doing to commemorate, preserve, gather and archive accurate historical records of this massacre for future generations.
CLICK HERE For Congressional Record
ASH HOLLOW STATE HISTORICAL PARK
www.growgardencounty.net |
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Phil Little Thunder
At the Grand Opening Ceremony
of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
September 21-22, 2004
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CREDITS:
The four PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS which aired on radio stations in Nebraska and South Dakota for the inaugural Blue Water Creek 1855 Memorial Walk were written, voiced and produced by MINOWA VOICE-OVERS. www.minowavoiceovers.com .
MUSIC: Each Public Service Announcement included the musical accompanyment , "Grandfather's Breath" from the album Heart of the Wind
by Robert Tree Cody and Will Clipman courtesy Canyon Records License #2010-084. www.canyonrecords.com All rights reserved.
We would like to extend our SPECIAL THANKS to:
Medicine Man Roy Stone, Sr. who has guided us spiritually through this whole endeavor of memoralizing our ancestors.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Diabetes Prevention Program, for their donation to assist with this Walk.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe, for their donation to assist the participating descendants of the Blue Water Creek 1855 Massacre. |
Sponsored by the Native American Alumni Group of George Mason University
President: T Carter
Organized by the Little Thunder Tiospaye (Extended Family)
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Copyright © 2010 Blue Water Creek Memorial Walk, All Rights Reserved
Web Design By: J. Zack Designs
Blue Water Creek & Daisy Photos taken by Mary Ann Mitchell, "Little Thunder Creations"
This website was made possible by Michelle Diane Rowe of Wilmington, Delaware.
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