Navajos and Apaches were the most trafficked and enslaved people in the Southwest. Spaniards, Mexicans, Americans and surrounding tribes all took part in it and it lasted into the early 1900s when it finally ended. Mexico abolished slavery in 1829, however black markets existed where enslaved people were traded for weapons and horses. The United States Congress banned indebted servitude in 1867 to bring an end to the practice. A famous quote comes from the *Conditions of the Indian Tribes* in 1867 from Kirby Benedict, a former Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court: "There are in the Territory a large number of Indians, principally females, who have been taken by force, or stealth, or purchased, who have been among the various wild tribes of New Mexico or those adjoining. Of these a large proportion are Navajos. It is notorious that Natives of this country have sometimes made captives of Navajo women and children when opportunities presented themselves; the custom has long existed here of buying Indian persons, especially women and children; the tribes themselves have carried on this kind of traffic. Destitute orphans are sometimes sold by their remote relations; poor parents also make traffic of their children. The Indian persons obtained in any of the modes mentioned are treated by those who claim to own them as their servants or slaves. They are bought and sold by and between the inhabitants at a price as much as is a horse or ox... the prices have lately ranged very high. A likely girl of not more than 8 years old, healthy and intelligent, would be held at a value of $400, or more." $400 calculated with an inflation calculator equals to a little over $9,000 today. A majority of the Mexican–American War was also fought on Navajo lands. Navajos did not want to intervene or pico any side, however they were known to trade with both sides. Many Navajos on the reservation have stories of Mexican armies battling and hiding from Americans, and vice versa for the Americans battling and hiding from the Mexicans. The places where they fought and hid have Mexican names. The Catholic Churches also practiced slavery, and there are abandoned missions and settlements from the Catholic Churches that are on the Navajo reservation. There are also many abandoned bars and brothels that Americans used. Americans were known to use more than Anglo enlistees. Mexicans and Spaniards also served in the American military. Surrounding tribes also helped Americans by being trackers and showing where strongholds and hidden villages were. Canyon de Chelly, the famous stronghold where many Navajos were captured during the ethnic cleansings during the 1860s, was exposed because of Hopi and Pueblo trackers. Utes were enemies with the Navajos, and they also helped the Americans, however they never knew where the strongholds and hidden villages were. I studied the ethnic cleansings, known as Hwéeldi (The Long Walk) and I have military reports and quotes from soldiers who captured Navajos. The reports contradict a lot history from surrounding tribes who claim the Navajo deserved to be wiped out because they were wild and constantly raiding surrounding tribes. Americans committed the ethnic cleansings because of settlers and surrounding tribes claiming Navajos were enslaving people in the region and raiding their communities. It was actually the other way around, and peace keepers from the White House even traveled to Bosque Redondo where the Navajos were being held captive with Mescalero Apaches to confirm that all the claims were false. American soldiers even noted in their reports that Navajos were not hostile, at all. Some soldiers even attempted to buy Navajo children as slaves to save them from the ethnic cleansings. One military report from 1864, between Steck and Dole, is quoted saying: "I agree with him also as to the bad influence the traffic in Navajo children has had upon that tribe, and that no permanent peace can be had with them as long as this evil is permitted. The Navajos are a powerful tribe, and are noted for their ingenuity and industry... They will not, however, be controlled while their children are stolen, bought, and sold by our people... There is no law of the Territory that legalizes the sale of Indians, yet it is done almost daily, without an effort to stop it—" Ramah and Tohajilee were rumored to practice slavery, however it was never proven. They were labeled as 'Anaa'dine'é (Enemy Navajo) and they were not concidered a part of the Navajo tribe during those times because they helped settlers and surrounding tribes in capturing and enslaving Navajos. James H. Carleton, a soldier who committed the ethnic cleansings during the 1860s, was known to keep many enslaved Navajos as trophies, and he attempted to use enslaved Navajos as a currency in the region. Carleton denied the accusations during his trial. Navajos and Apaches were nearly hunted to extinction, and the entire region helped do it. Americans didn't attempt to do it, but they wanted to keep the peace because it costed a lot of money to fund military campaigns and wars. By 1865, it costed between $1 million and $1.5 million to keep Navajos and Apaches in captivity in Bosque Redondo, and it was all taxpayer money. Keep in mind, the Civil War ended in 1865, and it costed an arm and leg to fund the war.
I say this to people who claim I have no idea what I'm talking about, and to people who try to comment false historical points. I did my research folks. I am more than prepared to prove my points. I knew people would try to sabotage my people's history, and I did everything I could to prove that the history is true. 🤧
I am proud to be Navajo–Diné. 👏