Navajo Nation, Arizona (Reservation)

United StatesIndians of North AmericaIndians of the United States and Their RecordsArizonaIndians of Arizona

For Tribal Information see Indians of Arizona, Navajo Nation, Arizona (Tribe) and Navajo Indians

The Navajo Indian Reservation is a federally-recognized reservation, located in northeastern Arizona. the reservation is located in Apache, Navajo, and Coconino Counties, Arizona


 * Established -- June 1, 1868. Two treaties were signed on June 1, 1868. One in Kansas signed by Chippewa Indian leaders, while the other in New Mexico Territory. It is the June 1, 1868 Treaty signed by Chippewa leaders in Kansas, which is far more important. The real treaty which created the Navajo Reservation, is the June 1, 1868 Treaty signed by Chippewa leaders in Kansas. It was not ratified by the United States.
 * Agency (BIA) --
 * Principal tribes --Chippewa or Navajo Algonquin (Athabascan or Dene is an Algonquian Language)
 * Population -- Reservation population is 173,667 according to the 2010 census.

History
On June 1, 1868, two treaties were signed which created the Navajo Reservation. One was signed by Chippewa leaders in Kansas, while the other was signed in New Mexico Territory. The United States did not ratify the June 1, 1868 Treaty signed by Chippewa leaders in Kansas. Click this following link digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/History/History-idx to read the June 1, 1868 Treaty signed by Chippewa leaders in Kansas. Click this following link docsteach.org/documents/6173067/print to read the treaty signed in New Mexico.

Chippewas must not let themselves be fooled. One treaty was not ratified, while the other was ratified. It is no coincidence both treaties were signed on the same day and year. Chippewa Traditionalists must use the June 1, 1868 Treaty signed by Chippewa leaders of Kansas, as educational proof the Navajo Reservation is a Chippewa Reservation. Navajo People will not accept this information. Chippewa Traditionalists will save it for future generations. It is the 1838-1839 Chippewa Exodus to the west which led to the creation of the Navajo Reservation.

On January 29, 1868, the Chippewa leader who led the Chippewa Exodus from Michigan and Ohio, to the Kansas region, in 1838-1839, chief Eshtonoquot, passed away. Chief Eshtonoquot was a traditionalist who did not want to leave the Kansas region. After his death, new Chippewa leaders commenced to negotiate with the Americans. They were far more willing to relocate to Indian Territory.

For some time, many of the Algonquin's had been leaving the Kansas region for the west and Oklahoma. After the June 1, 1868 Treaty, the relocation of the Kansas Chippewas to both the Navajo Reservation and Oklahoma, began to dramatically increase. They were more numerous than historians have written. The relocation went on up to the early 20th century. To learn more about the Chippewas of Kansas, click this following link www.kshs.org/publicat/history/1983winter_herring.pdf. To learn the Athabascan People or Dene People including the Apache, Chipewyan, and Navajo are Algonquin, click this following link books.google.com/books.

During the 1830s, the Mormons were trying to attract people to their religion including Indians. Joseph Smith moved to northwestern Missouri in 1838. A couple years earlier, the United States illegally bought a small part of the Chippewa Reservation located primarily in Iowa, whith small areas in Minnesota and northwest Missouri. It is known as the Platte Purchase. Chippewa leaders were not pleased about losing their land in northwest Missouri. A minor war followed in 1836.

Smith settled at what is now Far West, Missouri to promote his religion. In 1838, another minor war happened in northwestern Missouri historians refer to as the Mormon War of 1838. It was probably Chippewa's fighting white tresspassers. It was not the white Mormons who were driven out of Missouri, it was the Chippewa's who continued to live in northwestern Missouri who were driven out of northwestern Missouri.

Smith later moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. Nauvoo is very similar to Navajo. Nauvoo is pronounced as Na-voo. Only difference in Navajo, is the last syllable of Jo. Nau-voo and Na-va. Nauvoo was located in the land area in Illinois that was supposedly ceded on November 3, 1804. It was ceded by Indians who did not have the authority to cede that land. On August 24, 1816, another treaty signed by Chippewa leaders ceded the land in western Illinois, that was illegally ceded on November 3, 1804.

In December of 1843, Smith petitioned congress to make Nauvoo an independent territory. Sounds like an Indian Reservation. Smith was also organizing to relocate the so Mormons to California, Oregon, and Texas during that same time. Chippewa's were already forcing their way into northern Mexico by 1843. They followed the Seven Fires Prophecy which told them to migrate west.

Most of Smith's early converts were probably Indians his religion is largely founded on. However, as the 19th century progressed, more whites converted to Smith's religion. Smith was not liked by the whites. Probably because of his attempts to convert Indians to his religion. On June 27, 1844, Smith was killed by a group of Indians historians claim were whites who had darkened their faces. Smith was also not liked by Indians for trying to convert Indians to his religion. However, Smith's religion was allowed to freely exist among Indians and continued to convert more Indians

Exodus of 1846-1848
Chippewa leaders knew from prophecy that they had to move west away from the invading whites. On June 5, 1846, the United States again refused to honor treaty and broke the treaty that created the 5 million acre Chippewa Reservation in Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri. Chippewa leaders responded by sending out many of their explorers to the west to find land the whites would vomit over.

Chippewa scouts were sent as far as the deserts of southern Arizona and southern California, to find land the whites would find very worthless. Some Chippewa scouts found northern Utah an ideal location to migrate to and after returning to Iowa, explained to Chippewa leaders how they felt. After some commications, they agreed the best action was to flee to northern Mexico.

However, a large group made the decision to commence an exodus to northern Utah. They reached northern Utah and commenced to settle down. Among them were a few white Mormon Missionaries. Soon after reaching northern Utah, other Chippewa's were instructed to migrate to the deserts of southern California and also Arizona. Many settled in the region between Los Angeles and San Bernardino. Many others migrated down to southern Utah then to northern Arizona and northern New Mexico. They merged with the native Chippewa's of that location. They are the Navajo.

On September 9, 1849, the United States signed a treaty with Navajo leaders which defined their territory. In March of 1849, Mormon leaders drafted a constitution based on that of Iowa which was where Mormons had settled temporarily. You understand that! The State of Deseret was proclaimed in 1849 and is related to the treaty signed by the Navajo and the United States in that same year (1849). All of what is now Navajo Reservation, is located within the old State of Deseret. American leaders had no intentions of honoring the September 9, 1849 Treaty which established the State of Deseret which was nearly all desert land.

Broken Treaty
Soon after the September 9, 1849 Treaty, the Americans were allowed to establish trading posts and to travel through the State of Deseret. However, Chippewa leaders eventually learned the Americans had lied to them. It led to minor altercations then to an increase in fighting. In 1861, the United States launched military campaigns against the Chippewa State of Deseret. By July 20, 1863, the Chippewa's of Arizona surrendered and were taken to Fort Defiance.

Exodus of 1864
In 1864, around 9,000 Chippewa's commenced to leave the Kansas and Oklahoma region, for the west. Many more headed down to northern Mexico. The Civil War may have caused the Chippewa's to commence an exodus. Most fled to northern Mexico. On January 8, 1865, the Battle of Dove Creek was fought in western Texas, between the Chippewa's and Confederated soldiers. It was won by the Chippewa's who continued their migration to northern Mexico. The exodus commenced in August of 1864 and went on to the end of 1868. Those Chippewa's who migrated west into the Arizona and New Mexico region, reached Fort Sumner, New Mexico in the late spring or early summer of 1864. They were held at an interment camp at Bosque Redondo.

Creation of the Navajo Reservation
American leaders knew they had to first negotiate with Chippewa leaders from Kansas, before actually reducing the size of the State of Deseret. Those Chippewa's who remained in Iowa after their 5 million acre Reservation was eradicated, relocated to Kansas and Oklahoma soon after. They are the Saginaw or Swan Creek and Black River Chippewa's.

On June 1, 1868, the United States reached a treaty agreement with Chippewa leaders of Kansas which greatly reduced the size of the State of Deseret and established a much smaller Reservation. It was small compared to the Navajo Reservation of today. Land additions increased the size of Navajo Reservation.

1878
In 1878, a land addition was added on to the Navajo Reservation. It is located adjacent to the west side of the 1868 Reservation. Exactly, who the land was set aside for is unknown yet we know about the Cheyenne Exodus of 1877-1879.

1880
In 1880, another land addition was added on to Navajo Reservation. It is located to the west, south, and east of the 1868 Reservation. It was probably set aside for the Cheyenne of Colorado who white historians call the White River Utes who fought a war in 1879 in Colorado.

1882
In 1882, another land addition was added on to Navajo Reservation for Chippewa Traditionalists who were enraged with the brainwashing the whites were causing Indian children. They are known as the Hopi.

1884
In 1884, another land addition was added on to Navajo Reservation. It is a large area located adjacent to the northern part of the 1868 Reservation and to the west. It extends up to southern Utah. It may have been set aside for the Cheyenne from the Montana region. In 1884, the Cheyenne Chippewa's were also set aside the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.

1886
In 1886, another land addition was added on to Navajo Reservation. It is adjacent to the northeastern part of the 1868 Reservation. It may have been set aside for the Cheyenne Chippewa's or the Nez Perce who are the Amikwa Chippewa's. Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce of Oklahoma were allowed to leave Oklahoma in 1885.

1900
For a period of 14 years no land additions were added on to Navajo Reservation. However, the Chippewa's of Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming were yet defiant in the late 1890s and early 20th century. In 1898, the Leech Lake Rebellion caused much unrest in Minnesota. In response to the conflict, the United States added on a large area of land to the Navajo Reservation. It is located adjacent to the west side of Hopi Reservation. It is probably the 4th largest land addition. Betwen 1900 and 1934, the Chippewa's of Montana were continuint to live throughout th Reservation established for them in the 19th century in Idaho and Montana. Chief Rocky Boy and chief Little Bear, negotiated on their behalf to have new Reservations set aside for them.

1901
In 1901, another small land addition was added on to Navajo Reservation. It is located in the extreme southwestern part of the Reservation adjacent to Hopi Reservation. It may have been set aside for Minnesota Chippewa's or Montana Chippewa's. Both locations yet had defiant Chippewa's.

1905
In 1905, another land addition was added on to Navajo Reservation. It is located in the extreme northern part of the Reservation, adjacent to the 1884 land addition. It was probably set aside for the Chippewa's of Idaho (the Lemhi Shoshone Chippewa's) and Montana. Chiefs Rocky Boy and Little Bear, were increasing their negotiations in 1904 and 1905.

1907
In 1907, another large land addition was added on to Navajo Reservation. It is located in the far eastern part of the Reservation, adjacent to the 1880 land addition. It was set aside for the Chippewa's of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. The Lemhi Reservation was eradicated in 1905 and in 1907 several hundred Chippewa's were forced to leave the old Reservation. In the Anaconda and Butte region of Montana, the Chippewa's who lived to the south of those two cities, were told they had to leave the area. It was probably a part of the Lemhi Reservation. The whites warned the if they didn't leave, they would be interned. A large group of Chippewa's fled the northern part of Wind River Reservation after the northern part of Wind River Reservation was opened to white settlement on August 15, 1906. They fled northeast to southeast Montana where the were captured. Many were sent to South Dakota but most were sent to the new land addition added on to Navajo Reservation in 1907.

Treaties

 * 1849 September 9,
 * 1868 June 1, removal, reservation

Land Additions
After the June 1, 1868 Treaty, more land was added on to the Navajo Reservation and in 1882 the Hopi Reservation was created. The land additions happened in several phases. They were in 1878, 1880, 1882 (for the Hopi who are traditionalists), 1884, 1886, 1900, 1901, 1905, 1907, 1913, 1918, 1930, and 1934. Many of the Chippewa's and other Indians from Oklahoma, were relocated to these land addition areas. However, most may have come from the Montana region which includes Idaho. Chief Rocky Boy led a Chippewa Exodus off the Blackfeet Reservation in 1913 which probably accounts for the 1913 land addition

After 1896, the land additions were primarily for the Chippewas from Montana and Idaho, especially from Montana. During the years between 1896 and 1918, the Chippewas of Montana honored treaty by living throughout the vast Reservation the United States promised them through treaty agreements. However, the United States never intended to honor those treaties. On several occasions, the Chippewas were forced to pack their belongings and leave their native lands in Montana and Idaho, to be relocated to the Navajo Reservation.

In 1907, the United States refused to honor the treaties they made with the Chippewas and other Indian Tribes of Oklahoma. Many of the Chippewas and other Indians of Oklahoma, were allowed to relocate to the Navajo Reservation commencing in 1907. Even in the 1930s, Montana had a large Chippewa population living throughout their promised Reservation. So the 1930 and 1934 land additions were probably for the several hundred Chippewas who were living in Montana.

Records
Enrollment Records:

Tribal enrollment for the Navajo Nation is handled through: Navajo Office of Vital Records P.O. Box 9000 Window Rock, AZ 86515 Telephone: 928-871-6386 or 928-729-4020 Everyone enrolled as a member of the Navajo Nation since 1925 has been assigned a tribal census number. Those records are also maintained by this office.

Land records: Tribal land: 12,940 Allotted Land: 722,854