Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2000
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 106-465.
Official Summary
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2000 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, upon a determination that sufficient land has been acquired by the National Park Service (NPS), to establish in Kiowa County, Colorado, the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site to commemorate the massacre of more than 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians who were murdered by U.S. soldiers along Sand Creek in southeastern Colorado territory on November 29, 1864. Directs the Secretary to: (1) administer the Site as part of the NPS; (2) develop a Site management plan; and (3) prepare programs which educate the public about the Site. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire land and interests within the Site's boundaries for such purposes.Requires descendants of such Indians to have special rights of access to, and use of, federally acquired land within the Site.Directs the Secretary to: (1) grant to any descendant or tribal member reasonable access to federally acquired land within the Site for carrying out traditional, cultural, or historical observance; and (2) dedicate a portion of the Site to certain burial and commemorative remains and objects.Authorizes appropriations.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2000 directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National Historic Site in Kiowa County, Colorado, to commemorate the 1864 massacre of over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians by U.S. soldiers. The Act authorizes the National Park Service to acquire land for the site, manage it, develop a management plan, and create educational programs. It also grants descendants of the victims special access rights to the site for traditional, cultural, or historical purposes and requires dedication of portions of the site to burial and commemorative remains. The Act authorizes appropriations to support these activities and was signed into law on November 7, 2000.
This law establishes a federally managed historic site to honor the victims of the Sand Creek Massacre, providing land acquisition authority and special access rights for descendants, with funding authorized to support site management and education.
- Establishes the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Kiowa County, Colorado, under the National Park Service.
- Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land and interests within the site boundaries for preservation and commemoration.
- Grants descendants of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians special rights to access and use federally acquired land within the site for traditional and cultural observances.
- Requires development of a site management plan and public education programs about the historical significance of the massacre.
- Authorizes appropriations to fund the establishment and ongoing management of the site.
['Descendants and tribal members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians', 'National Park Service', 'Visitors and the general public interested in historical education', 'Local community in Kiowa County, Colorado']
['Implementation challenges related to land acquisition and management planning', 'Costs associated with land acquisition, site development, and ongoing maintenance', 'Ensuring appropriate access rights for descendants while balancing public use', 'Oversight of the management plan and educational programs to meet legislative requirements']
The bill was introduced and passed during the 106th Congress and was signed into law on November 7, 2000. It reflects a federal effort to recognize and commemorate a significant historical event involving Native American communities and U.S. military history. The legislation falls within the policy area of Public Lands and Natural Resources and aligns with broader efforts to preserve historic sites and promote public education about U.S. history.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Increased tourism and educational visits to Kiowa County, potentially benefiting local economy', 'Enhanced preservation of Native American cultural heritage and historical awareness', 'Potential administrative and operational demands on the National Park Service for site management and descendant access coordination']
The bill was enacted into law, indicating final legislative approval. Transparency considerations include monitoring the use of appropriated funds for land acquisition and site management, ensuring the management plan and educational programs are developed as mandated, and overseeing the implementation of special access rights for descendants to balance cultural observance with public use. The absence of the full bill text limits detailed analysis of specific enforcement or oversight provisions.
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