SAND CREEK
A Descendant-Led Documentary
A film shaped by the families whose ancestors were massacred at Sand Creek, and those who survived to carry the memory forward.
The Sand Creek Massacre Memorial, on the Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation in Concho, Oklahoma. Yellow arrows point to relatives of mine.
About the Film
On November 29, 1864, a Colorado Territory militia attacked a peaceful encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho people at Sand Creek. The village was flying both an American flag and a white flag of truce. The attack was not a battle in any way, shape, or form. It was a massacre.
More than 150 Native people were killed, the majority of them women, children, and elders. Bodies were mutilated. Survivors fled into the winter carrying trauma that would echo across generations.
This documentary is a descendant-led exploration of that massacre and its generational aftermath. Centering Cheyenne and Arapaho families whose ancestors were murdered or survived the attack, the film examines not only what happened in 1864, but how the memory of Sand Creek continues to shape identity, responsibility, and cultural continuity today.
The goal is not to debate history. It is to honor truth.
About the Director
Dylan K. Rogers is a filmmaker and direct descendant of Chief White Antelope, the Cheyenne peace chief who was killed during the Sand Creek Massacre. Over the past eleven years, Dylan has reconnected with his Cheyenne and Arapaho relatives and confirmed direct descent from multiple survivors and victims of the massacre.
This film emerges from that reconnection. It approaches Sand Creek not as distant history, but as lived inheritance shaped by descendants who carry its consequences.
Descendant-Led from the Ground Up
This project is being built intentionally as a descendant-led film.
A small advisory circle of relatives and community members is being formed during development to guide the direction of the project. The production will prioritize involving descendants wherever possible across research, interviews, crew roles, and creative collaboration.
This is not an external retelling. It is a reclamation of historical truth guided by those whose families were directly impacted.
Artistic Vision & Style
Visually, the film will move between the vast landscape of Sand Creek National Historic Site, intimate interviews with elders, and dynamic conversations with younger descendants encountering the full history of the massacre in real time.
The tone will be grounded and observational, allowing space for reflection, generational dialogue, and unfiltered reaction. Archival imagery, ledger drawings, and commissioned artwork will help bridge past and present, illustrating how violence in 1864 continues to reverberate today.
Artists & Creative Collaborators
The project intends to commission descendant artists, including Brent Learned and George Levi, to contribute to poster art and visual elements. Both artists will also be invited to share their reflections on Sand Creek and the role of art in carrying historical memory.
Additional collaborators are being engaged as development progresses.
Who is Attached So Far
Director – Dylan K. Rogers
Director of Photography – Brady Williams, direct descendant (Pending)
Researcher – Dee Cordry,
Oklahoma based author & historical expert on the subject
Oklahoma based author & historical expert on the subject
Descendant Advisory Circle – In formation
Help Build the Foundation
We are currently raising seed funding to support early development, including:
• Research and archival access
• Formation of the descendant advisory circle
• Travel for initial interviews
• Development materials and legal groundwork
Seed contributions help establish the foundation necessary to move into production and pursue larger grant funding.
Become a Seed Supporter
Contributions are currently collected via secure PayPal while a dedicated production entity and bank account are being finalized. Funds are used exclusively for documentary development and production expenses. Contributions are not currently tax-deductible.