This is a truly historic, authentic and exceptional drum from Black Owl, Raymond Yellow Hand, Dr. Charles Eastman and Reverend Issac Bellows amongst others of the Cheyenne and Arapaho and used in a special memorial service on April 7, 1904, the 40th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre; From the collections of ex-Dr. Charles Eastman, ex-Reverend Joseph Ward and Yankton Indian College Museum, ex-Jim Aplan, and ex-Cyrus Eaton. The drum was made to commemorate and honor those killed in the Sand Creek Massacre by U.S. Third Colorado Cavalry under the command of U.S. Colonel John Chivington on November 29, 1864 at Sand Creek, Colorado. The drum is comprised of parfleche’d Great American Bison Buffalo hide which was wetted and stretched over a bent wood frame and secured with wetted and hardened buffalo hide lacing. A top is the wetted and hardened buffalo hide and sinew carrying handle is still attached. Both sides are covered in mineral pigment polychrome old paint showing nice wear and fading, the front is marked: “In Memory of 500 Lives Lost on a Cold Morning / Sand Creek Colorado November 29, 1864 / 40 Moons Remembered On This Day Of Our Lord April 7, 1904 / ‘We Do Not Seek Tears for a Nation but Rather Acceptance and Understanding Between All Men Red and White’ Black Owl / (on the left the following names of 8 tribal leaders killed) Yellow Wolf, White Antelope, Bear Man, Spotted Crow, Big Man, War Bonnet, One Eye, Bear Robe / (a Christian Cross with radiating lines) / (on the right the following list of the bands of Cheyenne and Arapaho that the 500 killed belong to) Wutapai, Hevhaitaniu, Ovimana, Hisiomentanio, Heviqxnipahis, Suhtai / Dr. Charles Eastman, Reverend Issac Bellows, Black Owl, Raymond Yellow Hand (makers and hosts).” After the success of the Wounded Knee memorial service held at Pine Ridge on the 10th anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre by Dr. Charles Eastman, several Cheyenne elders living at Pine Ridge approached Eastman, and local church and reservation officials requesting a similar event be held in honor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians who were brutally murdered by the U.S. Cavalry. It took four years to organize the event, which tool place on April 7th, 1904. Cheyenne and Sioux leaders from Pine Ridge, along with other Arapaho and Northern Cheyenne participated in a tribute to the unarmed men, women and children who were massacred, over 1,000 people attended the event. As per spoken testimony handed down through the owners of the drum starting with Eastman further there was much drumming, signing and speeches given; including one by then Colorado Governor James Hamilton Peabody who attended the memorial at Eastman’s request and stated that the Sand Creek tragedy was “an unfair and cowardly act performed by the U.S. Army”. This drum was used during the memorial tribute and was later collected by Dr. Charles Eastman who donated it to Reverend Joseph Ward and his Yankton Indian College Museum located in Yankton, South Dakota. This was the first Indian college in the United States and had a large, one room museum with extensive displays of authentic period Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho artifacts that had been collected by Reverend Ward. The college closed in 1984 and the entire contents of the museum collection sold to respected artifact dealer Jim Aplan of Piedmont, South Dakota. Aplan later sold the drum to Cyrus Eaton in late 1980’s. This is the same collection history and from the same collection as the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial Drum circa 1900 which sold in 2019 for $21,875 (shown w/ bp). The Sand Creek Massacre, also known as the Chivington massacre, the battle of Sand Creek, or the massacre of Cheyenne Indians, was a brutal massacre of the Cheyenne and Arapaho people by the U.S. Army in the American Indian Wars that occurred on November 29, 1864, when a 675-man force of the U.S. Third Colorado Cavalry / U.S. 3rd Colorado Cavalry under the command of U.S. Volunteers Colonel John Chinington attacked and annihilated a village of Cheyenne and Arapaho people in southeastern Colorado Territory, killing and mutilating an estimated upwards of over 600 Native American peoples. Chivington himself claimed 500 to 600 warriors were killed. Chivington encircled the sleeping village at dawn, barking dogs and restless horses awoke tribe members, who upon seeing it was the Cavalry, raised an American Flag and several white flags of truce to show they were not hostiles or aggressive and were complying with the government mandates. Chivington responded by opening fire on the Indians with Howitzers, Hotchkiss cannons and other artillery, slaughtering the camp; of which at least half were women and children and all of which were likely unarmed. The troops supposedly further were aggressive brutalizing and mutilating the dead bodies, taking souvenirs, a shameful atrocity. Chivington was investigated for his actions at Sand Creek and was later forced to resign from the Colorado militia. The massacre locale is now designated as the "Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site" and is administered by the National Park Service. Reverend Joseph Ward was a noted early Sioux historian and collector. The Museum Collection included the Ghost Dance Shield sold by our company in our 6/3/2017 sale for $7,749, the Jack Red Cloud War Club sold at our 4/7/2018 sale for $7,380 and the Sioux Ghost Dance War Shield from Holy Bear which sold in our 8/25/2018 sale for $5,781 as well as the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial Drum circa 1900 which sold in 2019 for $21,875 (all shown with premium). The drum is truly a stunning piece with the buffalo parfleche, mineral pigment polychrome paint in colors of old green, yellow, back with blue and yellow accents. Overall the drum is well kept with some paint loss and discoloration but good condition. Measures 22-inches across by 4-inches wide.