November 24, 1864. Visualize a quiet morning on southeastern
Colorado’s high plains. See in your mind’s eye lodges housing Indians who
thought they were safe, at peace with the White people. Then think of the
terror, the horror that ensued as hundreds of heavily armed soldiers of the
First and Third Colorado Volunteer Regiments attacked, killing young men and
old, but mostly women and children.
Consider the biases, the hate, fear, self-righteousness, the
complexity of terrible acts and blame that led to this event and its aftermath.
Under the White Wing:
Events at Sand Creek does all this and more. And on a Sunday afternoon in
March, the full house listening to author Chuck Squier masterfully read his
gripping narrative verse experienced again the distress, the melancholy that
time and place holds. Spellbound by Chuck’s stunning portrayal of those
involved, listeners could well heed these words by Gary Holthaus:
If we do not know this
story and others like it in our history, we cannot acknowledge who we are as
Americans and what we have done as a nation.
A memorable afternoon. If you haven’t heard Chuck Squier
read from Under the White Wing, you
have missed something extraordinary.
Attendees settle in for a singular experience.
Laura Goodman welcomes the group and thanks Chuck.
Reg Saner, Boulder's first poet laureate, introduces friend and colleague Chuck Squier.
Chuck captivates the audience with his resonate voice,
portraying multiple facets of humankind.
Photos courtesy of John Zola
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