11.3 The Navajo Long Walk and return to Diné Bikéyah

The Navajo Long Walk was a brutal forced relocation in 1864. Thousands of Navajo were marched 300 miles to Bosque Redondo reservation. Many died from harsh conditions, disease, and inadequate resources. This event deeply traumatized the Navajo people.

Despite immense hardship, the Navajo showed resilience. They negotiated their return home with the 1868 Treaty. This established the Navajo Nation as sovereign, allowing cultural revitalization and self-governance. Their story exemplifies Indigenous resistance and renewal.

The Navajo Long Walk

Escalating Tensions and Military Campaign

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• In the mid-1800s, tensions between the Navajo and the U.S. government escalated due to conflicts over land, resources, and cultural differences
• The U.S. military, led by Colonel Kit Carson, implemented a scorched earth policy, destroying Navajo crops (corn, beans, squash), livestock (sheep, goats, horses), and homes to force their surrender

Forced Relocation and Harsh Conditions

• In 1864, thousands of Navajo were forced to march over 300 miles from their homeland to the Bosque Redondo reservation in eastern New Mexico, a journey known as the Long Walk
• During the Long Walk, the Navajo endured harsh conditions, including extreme weather (freezing temperatures, scorching heat), inadequate food and water, and disease (dysentery, pneumonia), resulting in the deaths of many individuals
• The Bosque Redondo reservation was poorly equipped to support the large Navajo population, with limited resources and unsuitable land for traditional farming practices (arid, alkaline soil)

Impact of the Long Walk

Disruption of Social Structures and Cultural Practices

• The forced relocation disrupted traditional Navajo social structures, separating families and clans (matrilineal kinship system), and undermining the authority of tribal leaders
• The loss of ancestral lands and the inability to perform sacred ceremonies (Blessing Way, Enemy Way) tied to specific locations led to a sense of cultural displacement and spiritual distress
• The Navajo faced challenges in maintaining their language (Diné bizaad), traditional knowledge (weaving, herbal medicine), and cultural practices while confined to the Bosque Redondo reservation

Psychological and Emotional Trauma

• The traumatic experiences of the Long Walk and the subsequent internment left lasting psychological and emotional scars on the Navajo people
• The Navajo grappled with the loss of loved ones, the separation from their homeland, and the erosion of their cultural identity
• Despite the hardships, the Navajo demonstrated resilience in adapting to their new circumstances and finding ways to preserve their cultural identity (storytelling, ceremonies)

Return to Diné Bikéyah

Unsustainable Conditions and Advocacy for Return

• The conditions at the Bosque Redondo reservation were unsustainable, with inadequate food, water, and shelter, leading to widespread disease (smallpox, measles) and death
• The Navajo persistently advocated for their return to their homeland, engaging in negotiations with U.S. government officials
• The U.S. government's realization that the Bosque Redondo experiment was a failure, coupled with the high cost of maintaining the reservation, contributed to their decision to allow the Navajo to return home

Treaty of 1868 and Sovereign Nation Status

• The Treaty of 1868 was signed between the U.S. government and Navajo leaders, allowing for their return to a portion of their original homeland (Diné Bikéyah)
• The treaty also established the Navajo Nation as a sovereign entity, recognizing their right to self-governance and control over their land and resources
• The return to Diné Bikéyah marked a significant milestone in Navajo history, paving the way for cultural revitalization and self-determination

Cultural Revitalization of the Navajo

Reconnection with Ancestral Lands and Traditions

• The return to Diné Bikéyah marked a turning point in Navajo history, enabling them to reconnect with their ancestral lands and sacred sites (Canyon de Chelly, Shiprock)
• The Navajo were able to reestablish their traditional way of life, including farming (corn, squash, melons), herding (sheep, goats), and the practice of sacred ceremonies (Kinaaldá, Hooghan blessing)
• The return fostered a sense of cultural pride and resilience among the Navajo, as they worked to rebuild their communities and pass on their traditions to future generations

Sovereignty and Economic Development

• The Navajo Nation's status as a sovereign entity allowed for greater control over their land, resources, and economic development
• The Navajo implemented programs to promote education, healthcare, and infrastructure within their communities
• The Navajo's successful return and cultural revitalization served as an inspiration for other Indigenous communities facing similar challenges and fighting for their rights (Hopi, Apache)