The Long Walk of the Navajos

The Long Walk of the Navajo, also called the Long Walk to Bosque Redondo, was an Indian removal effort of the United States government in 1863 and 1864.

The plan called for the removal of the Navajo from their native lands, which were called, in the Navajo language, Dinetah.

(Dinetah included land from northeastern Arizona through western New Mexico, and north into Utah and Colorado.) The Navajo cultivated crops on the fertile floors of canyons, including Canyon de Chelly, home to the ancient Anasazi people.

Early relations between Anglo-American settlers of New Mexico were relatively peaceful, but the peace began to disintegrate following the killing of respected Navajo leader Narbona in 1849.

By the 1850s, the U.S. government had begun establishing forts in Navajo territory, namely Fort Defiance (near present-day Window Rock, Arizona) and Fort Wingate (originally Fort Fauntleroy).

The Bonneville Treaty of 1858 reduced the extent of Navajo land, and the relatively pro-Navajo local U.S. Army leader and Indian agent exited the scene (reassigned to West Point and killed by Apaches while on a hunting trip, respectively).

Under the leadership of the new commander of Fort Defiance, William T. H. Brooks, the Navajo and the U.S. Army began a destructive cycle of raids and counter-raids culminating in the near-sacking of Fort Defiance by about 1,000 Navajo warriors under the leadership of Manuelito and Barboncito on April 30, 1860.

Despite another treaty signed on February 15, 1861, relations quickly soured further when a dispute over a horse race of questionable fairness resulted in the massacre of 30 Native Americans on the orders of Col. Manuel Chaves, commander of Fort Fauntleroy.

Following this massacre, which took place on September 22, 1861, military leaders began drafting plans to send the local Navajo on the Long Walk.

The plan was originated by Gen. James H. Carleton, the U.S. Army commander for the New Mexico region, and executed by Kit Carson, who used a scorched earth campaign to divide the Navajo people, and starve them out of their traditional homeland, Carleton also asked Carson to kill all the Mescalero Apache men.

Gen. Carleton sought primarily to "pacify the natives," but also believed Navajo land to be rich in gold, and it was thought the presence of hostile Indians would impede mining.

Led by the United States Army, thousands of Navajo (along with Mescalero Apaches from the Sacramento Mountains) were relocated from their native lands in eastern Arizona Territory and western New Mexico Territory to a former trading post called Bosque Redondo on the Pecos River Valley, also called Fort Sumner.

Bosque Redondo means round grove of trees in Spanish.

Some officers specifically discouraged the selection of Bosque Redondo as a site because of its poor water and minimal provisions of firewood.

At least 200 died along the 300-mile (500 kilometer) trek, and the reservation itself was little more than a prison camp.

Between 8,000 and 9,000 people were settled on a 40 square mile (104 km²) area, with the peak population being 9,022 in spring 1865.

Some Navajo managed to escape the Walk, variously surviving in the territory of the Chiricahua Apache, the Grand Canyon, on Navajo Mountain and in Utah.

By 1868 the experiment- meant to be the first Indian reservation west of Indian Territory -was declared a miserable failure, the victim of poor planning, disease, crop infestation and generally poor conditions for agriculture (harvests failed in each of the successive years of 1864, 1865, 1866 and 1867).

Having survived the ordeal, the various peoples interned at the camp were permitted to return from whence they came, and the Navajo were granted a 3.5 million acre (14,000 km²) area where they had previously resided.

On June 18, 1868, the once-scattered bands of people who called themselves Diné, now united as one, set off on the return journey, the Long Walk Home.

The Long Walk of the Navajo, also called the Long Walk to Bosque Redondo, was an Indian removal effort of the United States government in 1863 and 1864. The plan called for the removal of the Navajo from their native lands, which were called, in the Navajo language, Dinetah. (Dinetah included land from northeastern Arizona through western New Mexico, and north into Utah and Colorado.) The Navajo cultivated crops on the fertile floors of canyons, including Canyon de Chelly, home to the ancient Anasazi people. Early relations between Anglo-American settlers of New Mexico were relatively peaceful, but the peace began to disintegrate following the killing of respected Navajo leader Narbona in 1849. By the 1850s, the U.S. government had begun establishing forts in Navajo territory, namely Fort Defiance (near present-day Window Rock, Arizona) and Fort Wingate (originally Fort Fauntleroy). The Bonneville Treaty of 1858 reduced the extent of Navajo land, and the relatively pro-Navajo local U.S. Army leader and Indian agent exited the scene (reassigned to West Point and killed by Apaches while on a hunting trip, respectively). Under the leadership of the new commander of Fort Defiance, William T. H. Brooks, the Navajo and the U.S. Army began a destructive cycle of raids and counter-raids culminating in the near-sacking of Fort Defiance by about 1,000 Navajo warriors under the leadership of Manuelito and Barboncito on April 30, 1860. Despite another treaty signed on February 15, 1861, relations quickly soured further when a dispute over a horse race of questionable fairness resulted in the massacre of 30 Native Americans on the orders of Col. Manuel Chaves, commander of Fort Fauntleroy. Following this massacre, which took place on September 22, 1861, military leaders began drafting plans to send the local Navajo on the Long Walk. The plan was originated by Gen. James H. Carleton, the U.S. Army commander for the New Mexico region, and executed by Kit Carson, who used a scorched earth campaign to divide the Navajo people, and starve them out of their traditional homeland, Carleton also asked Carson to kill all the Mescalero Apache men. Gen. Carleton sought primarily to "pacify the natives," but also believed Navajo land to be rich in gold, and it was thought the presence of hostile Indians would impede mining. Led by the United States Army, thousands of Navajo (along with Mescalero Apaches from the Sacramento Mountains) were relocated from their native lands in eastern Arizona Territory and western New Mexico Territory to a former trading post called Bosque Redondo on the Pecos River Valley, also called Fort Sumner. Bosque Redondo means round grove of trees in Spanish. Some officers specifically discouraged the selection of Bosque Redondo as a site because of its poor water and minimal provisions of firewood. At least 200 died along the 300-mile (500 kilometer) trek, and the reservation itself was little more than a prison camp. Between 8,000 and 9,000 people were settled on a 40 square mile (104 km²) area, with the peak population being 9,022 in spring 1865. Some Navajo managed to escape the Walk, variously surviving in the territory of the Chiricahua Apache, the Grand Canyon, on Navajo Mountain and in Utah. By 1868 the experiment- meant to be the first Indian reservation west of Indian Territory -was declared a miserable failure, the victim of poor planning, disease, crop infestation and generally poor conditions for agriculture (harvests failed in each of the successive years of 1864, 1865, 1866 and 1867). Having survived the ordeal, the various peoples interned at the camp were permitted to return from whence they came, and the Navajo were granted a 3.5 million acre (14,000 km²) area where they had previously resided. On June 18, 1868, the once-scattered bands of people who called themselves Diné, now united as one, set off on the return journey, the Long Walk Home. °	The Long Walk of the Navajo, also called the Long Walk to Bosque Redondo, was an Indian removal effort of the United States government in 1863 and 1864.	Il Lungo Cammino dei Navajo, chiamato anche il Lungo Cammino di Bosque Redondo, fu il tentativo di un trasferimento di tribù indiane da parte del governo degli Stati Uniti nel 1863 e 1864.
	The plan called for the removal of the Navajo from their native lands, which were called, in the Navajo language, Dinetah.	Il programma prevedeva il trasferimento dei Navajo dalle loro terre native, che in lingua navajo erano chiamate dinetah.
	(Dinetah included land from northeastern Arizona through western New Mexico, and north into Utah and Colorado.) The Navajo cultivated crops on the fertile floors of canyons, including Canyon de Chelly, home to the ancient Anasazi people.	(Le dinetah comprendevano terre del nord-est dell'Arizona che si estendevano anche a parti del Nuovo Messico occidentale e, a nord, fin dentro l'Utah e il Colorado). I Navajo coltivavano prodotti agricoli sulla fertile superficie dei canyon, compreso il Canyon de Chelly, patria dell'antica popolazione degli Anasazi.
	Early relations between Anglo-American settlers of New Mexico were relatively peaceful, but the peace began to disintegrate following the killing of respected Navajo leader Narbona in 1849.	I rapporti iniziali con i coloni angloamericani del Nuovo Messico furono relativamente pacifici, ma la pace incominciò a disintegrarsi in seguito all'uccisione dello stimato capo navajo Narbona nel 1849.
	By the 1850s, the U.S. government had begun establishing forts in Navajo territory, namely Fort Defiance (near present-day Window Rock, Arizona) and Fort Wingate (originally Fort Fauntleroy).	Dagli anni 1850 e immediatamenti successivi, il governo U.S. cominciò a costruire dei fortini in territorio navajo, in particolare Fort Defiance (vicino all'attuale Window Rock - Arizona) e Fort Wingate (originariamente Fort Fauntleroy.
	The Bonneville Treaty of 1858 reduced the extent of Navajo land, and the relatively pro-Navajo local U.S. Army leader and Indian agent exited the scene (reassigned to West Point and killed by Apaches while on a hunting trip, respectively).	Il Trattato di Bonneville del 1858 ridusse l'estensione dei territori navajo, e il capo locale dell'esercito U.S. relativamente pro-navajo e l'agente indiano uscirono di scena (il primo riassegnato a West Point e il secondo ucciso dagli Apache durante una spedizione di caccia).
	Under the leadership of the new commander of Fort Defiance, William T. H. Brooks, the Navajo and the U.S. Army began a destructive cycle of raids and counter-raids culminating in the near-sacking of Fort Defiance by about 1,000 Navajo warriors under the leadership of Manuelito and Barboncito on April 30, 1860.	Sotto il comando del nuovo comandante di Fort Defiance, William T.H.Brooks, i Navajo e l'esercito statunitense iniziarono un distruttivo ciclo di attacchi e contrattacchi culminati nella quasi-conquista di Fort Defiance da parte dei circa 1000 guerrieri navajo guidati da Manuelito e Barboncito il 30 aprile 1860.
	Despite another treaty signed on February 15, 1861, relations quickly soured further when a dispute over a horse race of questionable fairness resulted in the massacre of 30 Native Americans on the orders of Col. Manuel Chaves, commander of Fort Fauntleroy.	Nonostante un altro trattato firmato il 15 febbraio 1861 i rapporti ben presto si deteriorarono ulteriormente quando una disputa su una corsa di cavalli di discutibile imparzialità si risolse nel massacro di 30 americani nativi per ordine del colonnello Manuel Chaves, comandante di Fort Fauntleroy.
	Following this massacre, which took place on September 22, 1861, military leaders began drafting plans to send the local Navajo on the Long Walk.	A seguito di questo massacro, che avvenne il 22 settembre 1861, i capi militari cominciarono ad elaborare un piano per avviare i Navajo locali al "Lungo Cammino"
	The plan was originated by Gen. James H. Carleton, the U.S. Army commander for the New Mexico region, and executed by Kit Carson, who used a scorched earth campaign to divide the Navajo people, and starve them out of their traditional homeland, Carleton also asked Carson to kill all the Mescalero Apache men.	Il piano fu ideato dal Generale James H. Carleton, comandante dell'esercito statunitense per la regione del Nuovo Messico, e venne eseguito da Kit Carson, che usò una tattica di terra bruciata per dividere il popolo navajo, e costringerli ad uscir fuori dai loro confini tradizionali per sfuggire alla fame. Carleton chiese anche a Carson di uccidere tutti gli Apache Mescalero adulti di sesso maschile.
	Gen. Carleton sought primarily to "pacify the natives," but also believed Navajo land to be rich in gold, and it was thought the presence of hostile Indians would impede mining.	Il Generale Carleton si prefiggeva in primo luogo di "pacificare i nativi", ma credeva anche che la terra dei Navajo fosse ricca d'oro, e si riteneva che la presenza di indiani ostili impedisse l'attività mineraria.
	Led by the United States Army, thousands of Navajo (along with Mescalero Apaches from the Sacramento Mountains) were relocated from their native lands in eastern Arizona Territory and western New Mexico Territory to a former trading post called Bosque Redondo on the Pecos River Valley, also called Fort Sumner.	Scortati dall'esercito degli Stati Uniti, migliaia di Navajo (unitamente agli Apache Mescalero delle montagne Sacramento) furono trasferiti dalle loro terre native nel territorio orientale dell'Arizona e nel territorio occidentale del Nuovo Messico ad un antico centro di commerci chiamato Bosque Redondo nella valle del fiume Pecos River, chiamata anche Fort Sumner.
	Bosque Redondo means round grove of trees in Spanish.	Bosque Redondo significa "bosco rotondo" in spagnolo.
	Some officers specifically discouraged the selection of Bosque Redondo as a site because of its poor water and minimal provisions of firewood.	Alcuni ufficiali sconsigliarono espressamente la scelta di Bosque Redondo come sito a causa della sua acqua contaminata e della ridottissima disponibilità di legna da ardere.
	At least 200 died along the 300-mile (500 kilometer) trek, and the reservation itself was little more than a prison camp.	Almeno 200 indiani morirono lungo le 300 miglia (500 chilometri) della marcia di trasferimento, e la riserva in sé era poco più di un campo di prigionia.
	Between 8,000 and 9,000 people were settled on a 40 square mile (104 km²) area, with the peak population being 9,022 in spring 1865.	Tra le 8000 e le 9000 persone vennero stipate in un'area di 40 miglia quadrate (104 kmq). Il picco di popolazione si toccò nella primavera del 1865 con 9.022 abitanti.
	Some Navajo managed to escape the Walk, variously surviving in the territory of the Chiricahua Apache, the Grand Canyon, on Navajo Mountain and in Utah.	Alcuni Navajo riuscirono a sfuggire al Lungo Cammino sopravvivendo variamente nel territorio degli Apache Chiricahua, nel Gran Canyon, sulla Montagna Navajo e in Utah.
	By 1868 the experiment- meant to be the first Indian reservation west of Indian Territory -was declared a miserable failure, the victim of poor planning, disease, crop infestation and generally poor conditions for agriculture (harvests failed in each of the successive years of 1864, 1865, 1866 and 1867).	Dal 1868 l'esperimento - che intendeva essere la prima riserva indiana ad ovest del Territorio Indiano - fu dichiarato un miserabile fallimento, vittima di una cattiva progettazione, di malattie, di infestazione dei raccolti e, in generale, di condizioni agricole scadenti (i raccolti furono un fallimento in ognuno degli anni che si susseguirono: 1864, 1865, 1866 e 1867).
	Having survived the ordeal, the various peoples interned at the camp were permitted to return from whence they came, and the Navajo were granted a 3.5 million acre (14,000 km²) area where they had previously resided.	Sopravvissute all'ardua prova, le varie popolazioni internate nel campo ebbero il permesso di ritornare da dove erano venute, e ai Navajo fu assegnata un'area di 3.500.000 acri (14.000 kmq) dove precedentemente avevano risieduto.
	On June 18, 1868, the once-scattered bands of people who called themselves Diné, now united as one, set off on the return journey, the Long Walk Home.	Il 18 giugno 1868, quelle che una volta erano stati delle bande sparpagliate di genti che chiamavano se stesse Diné, ora finalmente riunite, iniziarono il viaggio di ritorno, il Lungo Cammino verso la Patria.