The Long Walk to Bosque Redondo

Creation Story The Sacred ancestors emerged The “Glittering World” Built Sacred Mountains from four sacred objects

Sisnaajin Mt.Blanca Tsoodzil Mount Taylor Dook-O-Oosliid San Francisco Peaks Dibe Nitsaa Hesperus Peak

Sacred boundaries of the Dine’ Homeland called Denetah Walk in the harmony that comes when all things are in balance- ho’zho Center of sacred boundaries Canyon de Chelly

The Sacred Canyon De Chelly

The Spanish Invasion 1500’s peaceful villages raided Forced into slavery Rock Chiseling

Why do you think the Spanish felt they could control the Navajo peoples?

Petroglyphs found at Crow Canyon in Northwest New Mexico Depicting the Spanish invasion of the Navajo

US Arrive Brigadier General Steven Watts Keary arrive in Santa Fe Navajo life forever changed Navajo tried to live in peace with “New Men” Mexican raids continue Children sold Navajo weaving

Why do you think the US ignored what was happening to the Navajo?

US Steals Navajo Land Tricking the Navajo people into treaties and agreement that served the purpose of the Americans Did not try to understand the Navajo people Dine’ scattered in family clans, bound by beliefs and land Many headmen or chiefs Treaties not binding to all Navajo beadwork

Fort Defiance built in 1851

Summer of 1858 Severe drought Navajo return to land near Fort Defiance Cattle belonging to Navajo Headman Manuelito slaughtered Hostilities followed Bonneville Treaty ends hostilities Punishes the Navajos and steals more land

Manifest Destiny?

1860 Faced with starvation the Navajo fight back Led by Manuelito they attack Fort Defiance to reclaim their land The campaign fails Comly Treaty signed Navajos given rations Rock Chiseling

General Carlton Believed there were great riches Wanted to eliminate the Navajos In 1863 Carleton enlists Colonel Christopher “Kit" Carson His mission was to gather the Navajo people and remove them to Fort Sumner Navajo sand painting

Annihilation What other periods in history has one culture tried to eliminate another?

Christopher “Kit” Carson

Carson’s Campaign Invade the sacred Canyon de Chelly Aided by Navajo enemy the Utes Forced the people from their homes Burned crops Slaughtered cattle Pivoted on coming winter Starving Navajo had no choice but to surrender Rock Paintings

Navajo field In Canyon de Chelly

Petroglyph found in Largo Canyon, New Mexico, depicting the story of Carson’s campaign against the Navajo

The Actual Walk Several walks First through Santa Fe Alternant routes taken due to large numbers of Navajo Columns of more than five miles

The Long Walk

Conditions Along the Walk Harsh weather Forced to sleep outside No shelter or blankets Little food Food they could not digest

March Navajo General Carleton words “The weather was very inclement, with terrible gales of wind and heavy snow. The Indians were nearly naked; and besides many died from dysentery from eating too heartily of half cooked bread from our flour to which they were not accustomed.”

Many more than were expected Walks ended More than 8000 Navajo, Apache placed on the Reservation Bosque Redondo

Acculturation?

On the Reservation Crops fail due to poor soil Little timber for shelter of firewood Water bitter Many became sick with stomach problems Without their land and their corn the Navajo were wasting away Period from 1863 to 1868 darkest period in Navajo history

Treaty of 1868 Navajos return home Fraction of their original holdings The Navajo have survived and are one of the largest Indian tribes today Father Sky and Mother Earth Sand painting

Revitalization Movement Navajo Children playing with their pets after a rain Harrison Begay. 1955, Navajo artist

The Navajo Nation Today

Window Rock Arizona Window Rock is the administrative Capitol and administrative center of the Navajo Nation, getting its name from the hole in the 200 foot high sandstone hill (Window Rock)

Bibliography Bail, Raymond. The Long Walk, The story of Navajo Captivity. New York: Cavendish Bruchac, Joseph. Navajo Long Walk, The Tragic Story of a Proud People’s March from Their Homeland. Washington Geographic Society Fish, Peter. “The Riddle of Kit Carson”. Sunset. (2001): v206. Expanded Academic Index. Info Trac. Sunset.20 Mar vsc.edu:2093/itw/infomark Roberts, David. “The Long Walk”. Smithsonian. 28(1997):46(10). Expanded Academic Index. vsc Info Trac: Smithsonian Institution. 20 Mar University of New Mexico. The Long Walk RETA. Museum of New Mexico office of Statewide Programs and Education. 18 Mar.2006.

James, Ramon. Art of the Southwest: Sandpaintings of the Navajo. 30 Mar James, Ramon. Crow Canyon Ruins. 30 Mar