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Show Unfulfilled Promises: Negotiations with the Intruders, 1849-1882 49 changing their lifeways. By force and persuasion, the People signed several treaties in which they gave up more and more of their land, losing more and more of their freedom. The first federal Indian agent sent to the area was James S. Calhoun. He established his headquarters 22 July 1849 in Santa Fe and worked to secure a formal treaty with the Ute People. On 30 December 1849 Quixiachigiate, a leader of the Kapota, and twenty-seven other Ute leaders came to Abiquiu to negotiate. Impressed with Calhoun's sincerity and honesty they signed a treaty. They acknowledged themselves under the jurisdiction of the United States and promised peace. No boundaries were specified, but the People promised to confine themselves to their homelands, giving up the rest of their land. They also promised to establish farms and build permanent pueblos. In return they were to receive "such donations, presents, and implements . . . and such other liberal and humane measures as said Government may deem meet and proper."3 Congress ratified the treaty 9 September 1850. The relationship between the Ute People and the American and Mexican settlers of New Mexico remained uneasy. Utes continued to raid Mexican settlements. Many Ute leaders did not feel bound by the Calhoun Treaty, because they had not authorized Quixiachigiate to negotiate for them. Calhoun made an effort to get those leaders who had not signed the treaty to sign a memorandum after the treaty was explained to them.4 Unratified Abiquiu Treaty, 1855 The Ute People were particularly concerned about intrusion into the valley of Los Conejos which was a winter hunting ground. The People were also being cut off from the hunting on the Plains by better armed Cheyenne and Arapaho who were, in turn, being displaced by white settlers. With the game depleted, the People found it necessary to continue to raid the settlements. The situation finally became the Ute War of 1854. Ute People, mainly Moache under the leadership of Tierra Blanca, joined with Jicarilla Apaches. They attacked settlements, isolated farms, and military forts.5 The Indians were initially successful. However, they were defeated by the United States Army in fights in Saguache Valley in March 1855 and the next month near Salida.6 |
