The Tragic Long Walk of the Navajo People in History

Where did the long walk of the Navajo end?

The Navajo were forcibly removed by the U.S. Army as they walked 300 miles to Fort Sumner in Bosque Redondo from their ancestral lands in Arizona and New Mexico. During the 18-day march, hundreds of people died. Thus, the long walk of the Navajo ended at Fort Sumner.

The long walk of the Navajo people, also known as the Long Walk to Bosque Redondo, was a tragic event in history that had a profound impact on the Navajo tribe. The United States federal government deported the Navajo people in 1864 and made an effort at ethnic cleansing during this forced relocation. The Navajo people were made to travel from their homeland in eastern New Mexico to what is now Arizona. The journey was grueling, spanning 300 miles over 18 days, with hundreds of lives lost along the way. This forced march was part of a series of distinct forced marches that took place between August 1864 and the end of 1866. According to some anthropologists, the collective trauma of the Long Walk is fundamental to the current Navajo people's sense of identity as a people. The Navajo have endured immense suffering and loss as a result of this tragic event in their history. The end point of the long walk, Fort Sumner in Bosque Redondo, marked a dark chapter in the Navajo people's history. It is a reminder of the injustices and hardships faced by indigenous tribes in the face of colonization and forced relocation by the United States government. Despite the hardships faced by the Navajo people during the Long Walk, they have shown resilience and strength in preserving their culture and heritage. Today, the Navajo Nation continues to thrive and uphold their traditions, carrying the memory of the Long Walk as a testament to their endurance and perseverance.