Manuelito

Manuelito, Navajo chief

Manuelito (1818-1893) was one of the principle war chiefs of the Navajo people before, during and after the Long Walk Period. Born to Bit'ahni Clan, near the Bear's Ears in southeastern Utah about 1818. As any Navajo, he was known by different names depending upon context. He was Askkii Dighin ('Holy Boy'), Dahaana Baadaane (Son-in-Law of Late Texan), Hastiin Ch'ilhaajin ("Black Weeds") and as Nabaah Jilt'aa (War Chief, "Warrior Grabbed Enemy") to other Diné, and non-Navajo nicknamed him "Bullet Hole".

He was a prominent Navajo leader who rallied Navajos against the US. Military and for several years led a group of warriors in resisting federal efforts to be removed (called the Long Walk) to Bosque Redondo, New Mexico. After going to the Bosque Redondo, he was one of the leaders who signed the treaty in 1868 enabling the Navajo to return to their four sacred mountains and to steadily increase the size of their reservation after that.

Pre-Long Walk

• 1835 Battle of Washington Pass, Navajos routed 1000 Mexicans and Pueblo Indians.
• 1846 Was signer at 22 November 1846 Bear Springs Treaty as one of 14 Navajo chiefs.
• 1849 Present when Col. Washington met with his father-in-law Chief Narbona in the Chuska Mountains and Narbona was killed.
• 1853 He and Chief Aguila Negra visited Lt Ransom detachment at the mouth of Chaco River, where Chief Archuleta joined them and created a disturbance.
  • July, Chief Sarcillos Largos retires and Manuelito was elected to speak for the Navajos. This was at the time when a proposed treaty to separate Navajo and Mexican/American grazing lands.
• 1855, July Zarcillos Largos and Manuelito signed The Meriwether Treaty on July 18, 1855 at Laguna Negra with Americans. Manuelito was recognized as 'official chief' and receives a peace medal.
• 1856 Major Kendrick at Ft. Defiance spoke to Manuelito about stock stolen by some Navajo (one of many times Manuelito filled this role).
• 1857 He objects to army pastures around Ft. Defiance, but relents.
• 1858 Manuelito told Major Brooks, commander Ft. Defiance that Navajo's need the pastures (Ewell's Hay Camp) around the Fort for their livestock. Manuelito's band moved their stock closer and a skirmish happened and Manuelito lost over 100 cattle and other livestock.
• 1858 Major Brooks servant molested a Navajo woman and as custom dictated, Navajos killed the offender. After a brief campaign both sides signed a treaty.
• 1860
  • July, 50 Mexican/Americans from Cubero, NM raid summer camps. Manuelito and Sarcillos Largos set a successful ambush at Whiskey Lake in the Chuska Mountains. 40 of the raiders died.
  • December 400 volunteer citizens mount a campaign against the Navajos
• 1861 Major Canby, Commander at Ft Wingate submitted a list with Navajo chiefs ane Manuelito was listed as 5th.
• 1864, Start of Long Walk period. His band are still in Dinetah, perhaps southwest of the Little Colorado River.
• 1865 Jesus Arviso, Navajo interpreter was sent by Major Eaton of Ft. Wingate to tell Manuelito to come in.
  • Later Herrero Grande, Fecundo were sent from Ft. Sumner to Zuni to tell him to come in.
  • Utes had attacked Manuelito's camp .
• 1866
  • July. Zunis and Utes attack Manuelito's band south of Sierra Escudilla (near Springerville AZ).
  • September. Manuelito and his band come to Ft. Wingate and go to Bosque Redondo. Ganado Mucho and his band went to the Bosque from Escudilla another way.
• 1867, September Manuelito leaves to raid Utes, after Comanches and then Utes raid Navajos at Bosque Redondo. He and his band returned.
• 1868 He is one of the signers of the Treaty of Bosque Redondo which ended the Long Walk.

Post Long Walk

Manuelito, as he was known to the white man, was Ashkii Diyinii, Holy Boy, to his own people, later to earn the name Haastin Chil Haajin, or Sir Black Reeds, named for 'the place among the black reeds'.

Upon his return, he again lived east of Tohatchi. He became principal chief after Barboncito of the eastern Navajos.

• 1872 Manuelito was appointed as head of the new Navajo police force.
• 1876 Talked to President Grant reguarding land problems involving encroachment and potential leases of treaty given lands.
• 1879 Crops failed and Navajos raided citizens and Zunis. Manuelito and Gando Mucho arrested 40 men as thieves or witches.
• 1880 Meets President Hayes in Santa Fe. Also suggests that he be made "Chief of Scouts" to control whiskey traffic in eastern part of reseveraton'
• 1882 Navajos and white settlers argue over land that Manuelito says is theirs. He sends his two sons to Carlyle Indian School. He requests pipes for water and receives a permit to hunt off the reservation with 20 men.
• 1883 Manuelito's two sons are sick at Carlyle and return, only to die. Agent reports 4,000 Navajo follow Manuelito in eastern reservation area.
• 1886 Manuelito and Mariano were sent out to recruite Navajo Scouts for the Army.
• 1891 Army pays call upon him and Tom Torlino, gives advice about improving flow of springs.
• 1892 Is called to Ft. Wingate to discuss certain renegade Navajos were raiding stock belonging to non-Navajos.
• 1894 Manuelito died from measles complicated by pneumonia

See also

• Navajo Wars
• Long Walk of the Navajo
• Narbona

External links

• Bosque Redondo/Fort Sumner
• Oral history of Manuelito compiled by Harrison Lapahie Jr.
• Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known by General O. O. Howard cira 1908

References

• Correll, J. Lee. Manuelito, Navajo Naat'aani: About 1820 to 1894, unpublished draft for The Navajo Times edition 9 Sept 1965. Copy has 101 footnotes with citations.

• Compiled (1973). Roessel, Ruth (ed.). Navajo Stories of the Long Walk Period. Tsaile, Arizona: Navajo Community College Press. ISBN 0-912586-16-8.
• Grant, Bruce. Concise Encyclopedia of the American Indian, Wing Books: New York, 2000.
• Thompson, Gerald (1976). The Army and the Navajo: The Bosque Redondo Reservation Experiment 1863-1868. Tucson, Arizona: The University of Arizona Press. ISBN 0816504954.