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Show 52 Unfulfilled Promises: Negotiations with the Intruders, 1849-1882 was being imposed by Mormon settlers, not always with government approval. Mormon church President Brigham Young was made ex-officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Utah in 1850. There followed several years of controversy between the Mormon leaders and the non-Mormon Indian agents who were appointed by the federal government. A major issue was Young's expenditure of government money on gifts and supplies for Indians for the benefit of a particular church.12 Nevertheless, the Mormon settlers continued to occupy Ute lands. They were as harmful to the Utah Indians as were any other white settlers to other Indian groups. No treaties of cession were negotiated between Ute People and representatives of the federal government. With only private agreements the Mormon settlers took over the fertile valleys of the Great Basin. One such private agreement was the 1854 treaty of peace made between Wakara of the Tumpanawach, Kanosh of the Pah Vant, and Brigham Young. The federal government had not authorized Brigham Young to treat with the Indians for cession of their land. However, in March 1854 Young sent Major E. A. Bedell, the federal Indian agent, to meet with Ute leaders. Bedell was to inquire if they would treat with Young for the sale of their land. During the meeting with Bedell, Wakara stated "he would prefer not to sell if he could live peacefully with the white people which he was anxious to do."13 In May Young and several other LDS church leaders and their families went on a tour of southern Mormon settlements. Presents of cattle and tobacco were sent to Wakara. Arrangements were made for him and other Ute leaders to meet Young and his party at Chicken Creek. At the council several people spoke. One gray-haired leader explained: I am for war. I will never lay down my rifle and tomahawk. Americats [sic] have no truth â€" Americats killed Indians plenty â€" Americats see Indian women, he shoot her like deer â€" Americats no meet Indian to fight, he have no mercy â€" One year gone, Mormons say they kill no more Indian â€" Mormons no tell truth, plenty Utahs gone to Great Spirit. Mormon kill them â€" no friend to Americats more.14 |