WARNING
I know nothing about Navajo Nation. This is just what I learned from various sources, if you have any corrections or want to add anything please leave it in the comment section below.
Although, the Navajos weren't the first settlers in the Americas, the first being Ice-Age Paleo Indian hunters, the Navajos were here before Christopher Columbus. In other words, Navajo Nation was present way before 1492. The Navajo Nation stretches into Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
The Navajos have a long history, so I'm just going to list a few important points.
Spanish Era
1492-1820
- Spaniards first contact with the Navajos
- Navajos get tired of the Spaniards BS and drive them out of their land
- Spaniard soldiers are assholes that kill 100 Navajo elders, women and children that were hiding in a cave AKA Massacre at Canyon de Chelly
Mexican Era
1821-1847
- United States of America form Fort Defiance near Window Rock
Navajo Wars
1848-1868
- Kit Carson had Navajo captives that were forced to march 350 miles east to Fort Sumner and many died. This was known as the Long Walk
- Navajo Reservation created by Treaty of Bosque Redondo
Rez Beginning
1869-1927
- Trading post at Oljato was formed by John and Louisa Wetherhill
- The Navajo communities were organized into chapters which creates the Navajo Tribal Council
- Harry Goulding began a trading post that is still in action today
Stock Reduction
1928-1940
- President Roosevelt chose a Commission of Indian Affairs, which was someone that was for reducing livestock because of soil erosion issues, this meant that the Navajos now had an issue because livestock was important to them
- The Navajo reject the Indian Reorganization Act due to livestock reduction
Coming Out
1941-1969
- Navajos in the US Marines use use their language as code during the World War 2, and the enemy was unable to decode it, these men are known as the Navajo Code Talkers
- First woman elected to Navajo Tribal Council
- Navajo Tribal Council declares the reservation as Navajo Nation, and adopts Navajo flag
I don't want to overwhelm anyone, so I've decided to do the Navajo culture in my next post. Again I just want to remind you that this is just a brief history, if you would like to add anything please do by leaving a comment below.
Thank you for reading,
xoxoMichelle