07/04/2022
– 246 years ago, many people on this continent sacrificed to create a new nation with this core belief: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (people) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It was a stunning and groundbreaking vision. Yet that promise has sometimes been denied to people because of who they are.
These stories of both inspirational hope and heartbreaking tragedy are commemorated in National Park Service sites across the nation, including Great Sand Dunes. Historically, many people living around Great Sand Dunes have benefitted from, and continue to celebrate, the vision set forth in the Declaration of Independence. Yet there are also stories here of Indigenous peoples forced from their homelands, Buffalo Soldiers treated with contempt because of the color of their skin, the Trujillo family’s home being burned down in 1902 by area ranchers, and Japanese Americans sent to incarceration sites because they were of Japanese ancestry.
As we move toward the 250th birthday of the United States in 2026, the National Park Service seeks the realization of the original promise of this nation for all. Our economic, political, spiritual, and cultural vibrancy comes from our diversity. By understanding both the triumphs and tragedies of our nation’s history, we can work toward a more perfect union for our future.
Photo: This historic black and white photo shows a Jicarilla Apache mother and daughter on horseback with traditional regalia, circa 1900. Great Sand Dunes is part of the traditional homeland of the Jicarilla Apache people. Courtesy the National Museum of the American Indian.
