U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper appeared oblivious to the awkwardness that was his appearance at a ceremony this week commemorating the Sand Creek Massacre and marking the expansion of the historical site.
Tribal leaders graciously acknowledged Hickenlooper’s presence, which blessedly came sans any cultural appropriation.
Because, who could forget Hick’s past participation in a Wyoming antelope hunt where participants played dress up?
Cringe.
Hickenlooper was a regular participant in a hunting contest for western elitists at Wyoming’s “One Shot Antelope Hunt.”
The winners appropriated the traditional headdress of Native people.
Ugh.
Make him stop.
Hick and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet were gifted these blankets as a thank you for the U.S. government’s purchase of an additional 3,500 acres to add to the site, which seems like a fair exchange, given America’s real estate history with Indian Nation.
The national historic site currently holds 3,025 acres, of which nearly 1,560 acres are owned by the National Park Service and 1,465 acres are held in trust by the federal government for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, yet managed by the National Park Service.
The most recent acquisition that cost the federal government roughly $3.3 million will double the size of the historical site.
No word on whether Hickenlooper apologized to the Native Americans for his past participation in the Wyoming antelope hunts and his inappropriate appropriation of their traditional headdress.