Colorado’s 14th highest peak may be getting a new name. A proposal to change the name of Mt Evans to Mt Cheyenne-Arapaho has been submitted by Denver Elementary school teacher Kate Tynan-Ridgeway. The reason for the change concerns the second governor of Colorado, John Evans and his role in the Sand Creek Massacre.
The Sand Creek massacre was an attack on the Cheyenne and Arapaho native tribes by volunteer soldiers and the U.S. Calvary on November 29, 1864. The attack was carried out despite the waiving of truce flags by native leaders. Of the 150 killed in the attack, nearly half were woman and children. The event is largely considered one of the worst tragedies in Native American history and a dark time for Colorado. Evan’s was forced to resign following a coverup of the events.
The proposal for the name change has great support in Colorado. The co-director for the Colorado Indian center, Rick Walters is in favor of the name change.
“Although I often say that we cannot change the past, changing the name to reflect and recognize original inhabitants of this land would help bring about awareness that Indian people are still here,”
The U.S. Board on Geological Names hopes to make a decision on the name change by the end of the year.
I think this is a great idea. It would also serve to remind some of the newer residents that Colorado is home to over 100,000 Native Americans currently.