| OCR Text |
Show 106 VIII. BILAGAANA NINAAD^A' cans said that they were on their way to the Canyon de Chelly to sign a treaty with the whole Navajo nation. Narbona and the other headmen promised to do their best to see that the Navajos kept the treaty's terms. They showed their good faith by turning over 130 sheep and 4 or 5 mules and horses. But then a poorly-handled argument destroyed the good feelings. A Mexican among Washington's troops claimed that one of the Indians had a horse that had been stolen from him. Washington demanded that the Indians return the horse at once. The Navajos refused, saying that they had taken it back to the place where it was stolen once, but the owner had failed to claim it. Thus he had given up his right to it. Besides, the Navajo who had the horse had fled during the confusion. When Washington told his troops to seize another horse in payment, the whole crowd of Navajos mounted their horses and sped off. Washington ordered his soldiers to shoot. With guns and cannons they shot at the fleeing Indians, killing Narbona and six other Navajos. Then the troops marched to the mouth of Canyon de Chelly. There Navajo leaders, knowing the soldiers' strength, signed their third treaty with the Americans. Though the Navajos agreed to the treaty, many of them resented the Americans' actions. The soldiers had killed Narbona, one of the most respected Navajos, a man who had worked hard for peace. They had killed him because of a horse, even though it had belonged to another Navajo and the leader had little say in the argument. Horses made a Navajo what he was. They were the most personal of property. And the Americans had taken the word of an enemy, a New Mexican, without discussing the matter with the Navajos. They had given the Navajos no choice but surrender or death. This treaty, signed by Mariano Martinez of the Canyon de Chelly Navajos and Chapitone of the San Juan Navajos, was the most important yet signed. The first to be approved by the United States Congress, it became the model for later treaties. Declaring peace and friendship between the Navajos and the United States, the treaty extended American jurisdiction and protection to the tribe. It also applied the American laws of trade and relations with Indian tribes to the Navajos. The United States agreed to punish anyone who committed crimes against the Navajos. The government reserved the right to set up army forts and trading posts |
