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A painting depicting the 1864 Sand Creek massacre on a buffalo skin hangs on a wall of Sand Creek Massacre Descendants Trust attorney Larry Derryberry in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma November 30th, 2012. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

A view from an overlook at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site in Kiowa County near Eads Colorado November 28th. 2012. On November 29th, 1864, Colorado militiamen killed over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians at the site who were living peacefully along the creek in their village. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

A descriptive sign with a picture of a Cheyenne Chief on it greets visitors of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site in Kiowa County near Eads Colorado November 28th. 2012. On November 29th, 1864, Colorado militiamen killed over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians at the site who were living peacefully along the creek in their village. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

Patricia Bointy, center, hugs her "adopted" granddaughter, Samantha Wells, 11, and Samantha's good friend, Ramysee Kiley Davenport, 10, right, during the 22nd annual Sand Creek Descendants Gathering in Anadarko Oklahoma Saturday, December 1st, 2012. Bointy's sister Linda Tsonetokoy, passed away the day before the gathering. Nearly 100 descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre gathered at the Anadarko High School gym for traditional Gourd dancing, food and other activities and also to get updates on legal action towards the U.S. for the massacre which left over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians dead in southeast Colorado November 29th, 1864. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

Traditional American Indian song and dance during the 22nd annual Sand Creek Descendants Gathering in Anadarko Oklahoma Saturday, December 1st, 2012. Anadarko lost 21-14. Nearly 100 descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre gathered at the Anadarko High School gym for traditional Gourd dancing, food and other activities and also to get updates on legal action towards the U.S. for the massacre which left over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians dead in southeast Colorado November 29th, 1864. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

Sand Creek Massacre descendant, American Indian, Robert Simpson, Cheyenne, Arapaho Mississippi, Choctaw, a Methodist pastor, stands in his church, JJ Methvin United Methodist Church, in Anadarko Oklahoma December 1st 2012. Simpson is on the board for the Sand Creek Massacre Descendants Trust which is trying to get an apology and compensation from the United States government for the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre in southeast Colorado where over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians were killed in their village by Colorado militiamen lead by Col. John Chivington. Chief White Antelope, who was killed at Sand Creek, is Simpson's great great grandfather. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

Samantha Wells, 11, 2011-2013 Southwest Oklahoma Vietnam Veterans Jr. Princess has her picture taken by a relative at the 22nd annual Sand Creek Descendants Gathering in Anadarko Oklahoma Saturday, December 1st, 2012. Nearly 100 descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre gathered at the Anadarko High School gym for traditional Gourd dancing, food and other activities and also to get updates on legal action towards the U.S. for the massacre which left over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians dead in southeast Colorado November 29th, 1864. Wells was later crowned at the gathering as the Sand Creek Massacre Descendants Trust Princess, an honor that she will carry on for four years. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

Tom Ware, third from left, adjusts a feather in the head gear of newly crowned Sand Creek Massacre Descendants Trust Princess, Samantha Wells, 11-years-old, second from left, as Samantha's grandfather, Robert Simpson, left, and outgoing princess, Kelsey Palmer, 16, right, witness the ceremony at the 22nd annual Sand Creek Descendants Gathering in Anadarko Oklahoma, Saturday, December 1st, 2012. Nearly 100 descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre gathered at the Anadarko High School gym for traditional Gourd dancing, food and other activities and also to get updates on legal action towards the U.S. for the massacre which left over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians dead in southeast Colorado November 29th, 1864. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

Kiowa Indian, Tom Ware, master of ceremonies for the 22nd annual Sand Creek Descendants Gathering in Anadarko Oklahoma, listens intently to the 4A Oklahoma State high school football championship between the Anadarko Warriors and the Clinton Red Tornadoes Saturday, December 1st, 2012. Anadarko lost 21-14. Nearly 100 descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre gathered at the Anadarko High School gym for traditional Gourd dancing, food and other activities and also to get updates on legal action towards the U.S. for the massacre which left over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians dead in southeast Colorado November 29th, 1864. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

A group of American Indians lead by Head Singer, Jimmy Reeder, center (yellow shirt) drum and sing ceremonial songs during the 22nd annual Sand Creek Descendants Gathering in Anadarko Oklahoma Saturday, December 1st, 2012. Nearly 100 descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre gathered at the Anadarko High School gym for traditional Gourd dancing, food and other activities and also to get updates on legal action towards the U.S. for the massacre which left over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians dead in southeast Colorado November 29th, 1864. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

Robert Simpson, congratulates his granddaughter, Samantha Wells, 11-years-old, after becoming the newly crowned Sand Creek Massacre Descendants Trust Princess during a ceremony at the 22nd annual Sand Creek Descendants Gathering in Anadarko Oklahoma, Saturday, December 1st, 2012. Nearly 100 descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre gathered at the Anadarko High School gym for traditional Gourd dancing, food and other activities and also to get updates on legal action towards the U.S. for the massacre which left over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians dead in southeast Colorado November 29th, 1864. Chief White Antelope, who was killed in the Sand Creek Massacre, is Simpson's great great grandfather. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

A descriptive sign with a picture of Colorado Territorial Governor, John Evans, greets visitors of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site with a quote of "All citizens of Colorado...go in pursuit, kill and destroy all hostile indians that infest the plains..." On November 29th, 1864, Colorado militiamen killed over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians at the site who were living peacefully along the creek in their village. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

A view from an overlook at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site in Kiowa County near Eads Colorado November 28th. 2012. On November 29th, 1864, Colorado militiamen killed over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians at the site who were living peacefully along the creek in their village. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

Folks gather on a chilly morning, November 29th, 2012, at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site in Kiowa County Colorado for a sunrise program on 148th anniversary of the massacre. National Park Service Ranger, Craig Moore, second from left, gave a speech to a handful of people, honoring Chief White Antelope, who was killed along with over 150 Indians November 29th, 1864 by Colorado militiamen. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

A view from an overlook at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site in Kiowa County near Eads Colorado November 28th. 2012. On November 29th, 1864, Colorado militiamen killed over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians at the site who were living peacefully along the creek in their village. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

A view of an area along a creek bed (along the tree line, top) at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site in Kiowa County near Eads Colorado November 28th. 2012. On November 29th, 1864, Colorado militiamen killed over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians at the site who were living peacefully along the creek in their village. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross

A monument marker sits on an overlook that greets visitors of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site in Kiowa County near Eads Colorado November 28th. 2012. On November 29th, 1864, Colorado militiamen killed over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians on the site who were living peacefully along the creek in their village. The Denver Post/ Andy Cross