Lesson Three - Treaty of 1868
Lesson Three will be a quick glimpse of Navajo history from the beginning of the first recorded document with Spaniards to the Treaty of 1868. Through this quick glimpse, it will help us understand some of the important events that led up the treaty of 1868 and why leaders of the Dine Tribe signed the treaty. First, we begin with the name, "Navajo." The term, "Navajo" is a name derived from the Spaniards, and is a degrading name to the Dine people.
A recorded observation of the Dine was in the seventeenth century August 1706, when Governor Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdez described the land in which the Dine lived. He saw them as mountain people and farmers as they lived amongst the mountains. The Dine people back then, lived as far as Taos Pueblo, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Zuni, Rio Grande, along side the Colorado River and on westward near the Utah area. All of this, land had already been occupied by the Dine. Through three raids led in 1705 under Cuervo y Valdez's orders, the Dine were divided in all directions throughout Dinetah. This lead to a result of Dine expansion to all four corners of the region of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Though through territorial raids, not all Dine were taken captive and enslaved. One-third of the Dine people hid from the Spaniards in high regions of the mountains, canyons, cliffs, etc. It is these Dine who did not experience the Long Walk who did not carry out the agreement of the treaty.
Those who were captured had no choice but to be a part of the Long Walk for they knew if they hid, they would not survive one winter. Kit Carson also known as Rope Thrower to the Dine, had troops destroy everything in their path. Navajo hogans were burnt to the ground, crops destroyed, livestock shot, water wells contaminated and anything that could potential keep the Dine alive abolished. Families had nothing and only walked away with what they had in their hand at the moment of attack. Among the many who surrendered they were then told to walk over hundreds of miles to Bosque Redondo, New Mexico. Through this walk many endured sickness, hunger and fatigue that several did not survive the walk. Women who were pregnant had a hard time keeping up with the group as were the elders who needed assistance. Any person who slowed down the group was brought to the side and shot immediately, leaving only those that had strength to continue the walk. People walked with only what they were left and this was usually only the clothes on their backs and being merely barefoot. With only this they had to endure the harsh winters, freezing nights and mountainous terrain. Due to weather conditions and poor treatment many got sick and were again left behind to die. Very few of the Dine people lived through the Long Walk to Bosque Redondo, for this reason many elders do not discuss the walk. As the walk was occurring, there were still many bands of Dine who still had not been captured nor surrendered. These bands hid deep in the Canyons and mountains, never having to experience Bosque Redondo.
What is Bosque Redondo? Bosque Redondo, otherwise known as "Hweeldi" to the Dine is located in the state of New Mexico southeast of Albuquerque. It is the place where the Dine people were captivated for years before their release back to Arizona. The Bosque Redondo area was located in a wide plain area that had poor soil, lack of vegetation and completely bare of any use. Given no shelter or food, families had to make due with what they could. Many lived in brush covered holes and gathered what little sticks they could to build a descent shade house. Living conditions were poor and food was even worse. Americans had given them flour and coffee beans to eat but because the Dine did not know what they were or how to use them, they got very sick and died. The Pecos River itself was also the water source for the Dine and brought on sickness. The people grew hungry and many were now in rags. For years the Dine lived this way and many died.
Americans at this time did not know the amount of Dine people out there and the amount they were going to bring to Bosque Redondo. For them, this was too many people and they too did not know how to handle the situation. By 1867, American leaders began fearing that they had made a mistake in bringing the people to Fort Sumner. They called out to Dine leaders in hopes of solving the problems that occurred and it was through this that the hope to return home began among the people. Pueblo homes were built for the Dine but due to traditional teachings many would not live in it. Food was handed out but this still did not feed all the people. The structure in which the Americans wanted the Dine to live was not working and created only despair among the two. It was in the year of 1868 that General Sherman came and looked at the living conditions of the Dine. He saw hungry families, sickness everywhere and unimaginable living conditions that he asked to meet with the Dine leaders. He met with Barboncito, a Dine leader who was chosen by the people to speak on behalf of the people about the conditions at Bosque Redondo. Barbocito spoke about many issues relating to the Dine, the many that died, the many that were captured and taken away, the way of their Dine lifestyles and asked to only have all of this people return home to the four sacred mountains. It is with this that General Sherman agreed to have the Dine return home. Sherman took out a map and stated that it would be marked that within the Navajo boundaries the Navajo (Dine) would live forever. With this said, Navajo leaders signed the Treaty of 1868 and were released from captivity.
Over eight thousand Dine people started the walk home without hesitation. Upon the first sight of the tip of Mount Taylor, (one of the four sacred mountains) the Dine fell to the earth as happiness filled their hearts once more. Tears of joy fell and the songs of happiness filled the air, the Dine people were finally home.
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