Navajo Long Walk
Authors: Nancy M. Armstrong
Navajo Long Walk
Copyright © 1994 by Nancy Armstrong
All rights reserved
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ISBN-13: 978-1-879373-56-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-879373-56-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 94-66493
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesâPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Chapter One: Trouble Comes to the Mesa
Chapter Two: Off to the Hide-out
Chapter Three: Soldiers Find the Canyon
Chapter Four: Time to Surrender
Chapter Five: Back to the Mesa
Chapter Six: On to Fort Defiance
Chapter Seven: A Happy Surprise
Chapter Eight: The Long Walk Begins
Chapter Nine: The Long Walk Continues
Chapter Ten: Crossing the Rio Grande
Chapter Eleven: A Restful Stopover
Chapter Twelve: Arrival at Fort Sumner
Chapter Thirteen: Kee Meets Smoke
Chapter Fourteen: School Begins
Chapter Fifteen: Weaving Brings Happiness
Chapter Sixteen: Cold, Hunger, and Comanche Raiders
Chapter Seventeen: A New Friend
Chapter Eighteen: Little Mare Enters Kee's Life
Chapter Nineteen: A Big Surprise
Chapter Twenty: Homeward Bound
Chapter Twenty-one: Back to the Mesa
Chapter Twenty-two: Home at Last
The Council for Indian Education is a non-profit organization devoted to teacher training and to the publication of materials to aid in Indian education. All books are selected by an Indian editorial board and are approved for use with Indian children. Proceeds are used for the publication of more books for Indian children. Roberts Rinehart Publishers copublishes select manuscripts to aid the Council for Indian Education in the distribution of these books to wider markets, to aid in the production of books, and to support the Council's educational programs.
Editorial Board for
Navajo Long Walk
Hap GillilandâChairman
Rosalie BearCraneâCrow
Linda LimberhandâCheyenne
Esther PeralezâAztec
Therese WoodenlegsâNorthern Cheyenne
Elizabeth ClarkâSecretary of the Board
Robert LaFountainâChippewa
Marie ReyhnerâNavajo
Elaine AlleryâChippewa-Cree
Sally Old CoyoteâCrow
Kay StreeterâSioux
Joe CooperâYurok
Gary DollarhideâCherokee
William SpintâCrow
Jerry CoxâChippewa
Sharon Many Beads BowersâAssiniboine-Haida
Julia Minoz BradfordâHispanic-Lakota
Juanita SlossâBlackfeet
Mary Therese One BearâCheyenne
Gail TallWhiteManâNorthern Cheyenne
In the early 1860s, the United States government was under pressure from ranchers, farmers and other Indian tribes in Arizona and New Mexico to put a stop to raiding by the Navajos. In 1863, although the Civil War was in full force, Union Army forces returned to confront the Navajos.
The army decided they must be moved to a reservation and assimilated into the American way of life. An area known as Bosque Redondo on the Pecos River in eastern New Mexico was chosen as the site of Fort Sumner and the Navajo reservation.
Knowing the Navajos would not go voluntarily, Colonel Kit Carson was sent to wage a campaign that would force them to surrender. It included the destruction of crops, livestock and hogans. The campaign was helped considerably by Col. Carson's successful march through Canyon de Chelly in the bitter winter of 1863-64.
Although some escaped capture by hiding in the inaccessible caves and canyons of Navajoland, more and more Navajos surrendered in 1864, and about 8000 made the “Long Walk” to Bosque Redondo. The forced march of 300 miles from Arizona into New Mexico and four years of confinement at Fort Sumner is remembered bitterly to this day.
A peace treaty signed on June 1, 1868 between the United States government and the Navajo returned to them a portion of their homelandâ3.5 million acres set aside along the New Mexico-Arizona border.
The story of these difficult years, the Long Walk and four-year confinement, is told through the eyes of Kee, a Navajo boy, and his family. The family's love for each other and their animals, and the strength and resilience of the Diné (The People) is vividly portrayed.
Trouble Comes to the Mesa
Through the smoke hole in the top of the hogan Kee could see that sun-bearer was just beginning to light the sky, yet his father, Strong Man, was already eating his breakfast. Kee's grandmother, Wise One, was talking with him in low tones as they ate. He must be going raiding again, Kee thought. Oh, how he hoped Strong Man would find Kee's mother, Gentlewoman! The hogan had seemed so lonely without her these last two years since she was captured and stolen away by the Utes. Strong Man had spent much time riding with other Navajo men, trying to find her. If that should happen, it would be the happiest day of Kee's life.
As Kee stretched under his worn sheepskin, Strong Man smiled down at him and said, “My son, take good care of the sheep and your sister and grandmother while I am away. I will try to bring back a horse from this raid. It is time you had a horse of your own.” A broad smile crossed Kee's face. He could hardly contain his excitement. He knew the Navajo called horses “that by which men live,” and he dreamed of having one of his own.
At the sound of approaching hoofbeats, Kee quickly rolled out of his sheepskin. His uncle, Red Cloud, burst into the hogan and said to Kee's father, “Come, we must
travel fast. There's trouble. Soldiers from Fort Defiance have captured some Navajos and taken them to the fort.”
As Strong Man and Red Cloud galloped away, Kee's little sister, Hasba, crawled from her bed of sheepskins and they began their breakfast of corn meal and goat's milk.
“Why should soldiers be attacking the Navajos?” Kee asked. “Why can't they just leave us alone?”
Grandmother shrugged her shoulders. “It is the way of soldiers,” she said. “No one can tell what they will do. We hope that they will not come this far, but keep your eyes sharp today as you herd the sheep and goats.”
“Maybe we should just stay here today,” Hasba suggested. “It sounds dangerous to be out there.”
Kee's laugh was somewhat forced. He tried to sound confident as he said, “The sheep and goats have to eat. But don't be afraid little sister, I will be with you.”