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Show 50 Unfulfilled Promises: Negotiations with the Intruders, 1849-1882 Starving and discouraged Utes and Apaches came to Lorenzo Labadi, the agent at Abiquiu. He supplied them with sheep and corn and made arrangements for them to negotiate a peace. On 11 September 1855 Moache Utes concluded a treaty with New Mexico Governor David Merriwether and other federal officials. It was an extension of a treaty concluded with the Kapota a few months earlier.7 However, the treaty was never ratified. This was probably because the reservation designated by the treaty to be the permanent home of the People included land in the San Luis Valley (one thousand square miles west of the Rio Grande).8 There were located the farms of several settlers who had no desire to give the land back to the People. Tabeguache (Taviwach) Treaty, 1863 The massive influx of settlers in Colorado occurred after gold was discovered in the Pike's Peak region. Thousands of people traveled to the gold country. Many others followed with their families intending to settle there. This invasion was in violation of Indian rights since no treaty had been signed with the Ute People giving up this land. By 1860 the invasion was causing havoc among the People. The miners killed or drove out the game. The settlers cleared the natural foliage. War was only narrowly averted. In October of 1863 a council was set at the recently established Conejos Agency to negotiate another treaty. Messages were sent out to the various Ute groups. The Weeminuche and Moache refused to attend. The Kapota attended but did not sign the treaty. The Parianuche and Yamparika leaders were with Black Hawk in Utah. Since the largest group in attendence was the Taviwach, the treaty commission decided to negotiate only with them. To set the proper mood to negotiate the land cession, gifts were lavishly distributed to the People. Five hundred soldiers were present to "preserve peace." Thus, the Taviwach were impressed, bribed, and threatened into signing the treaty. Ten leaders, including Colorow and Ouray, signed. Colorado Governor John Evans gave seven of the more "friendly" Utes silver medals.9 |