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The Long Walk was a forced march of Navajo people from their homelands to a reservation in southeastern New Mexico, following hostilities from both the Army and the Navajo. General James Carlton ordered the march, with Kit Carson overseeing it. Many died during the 300-mile journey and in the months that followed due to lack of arable land and scarce water. The Navajo population was reduced by a quarter. The Long Walk remains a reminder of despair and sadness for Navajo and Americans alike.
The Long Walk specifically refers to a forced army march of the Navajo people from their homelands in western New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and parts of Colorado, to a reservation in southeastern New Mexico. Most of the Navajos forced to take the Long Trail gathered in the areas around Fort Defiance in Arizona. Some fled to the Grand Canyon, but more than 8,000 people were forced by the military to relocate to lands around Fort Sumner.
The Long Walk followed repeated hostilities from both the Army and the Navajo. In retrospect, however, the repeated breaches of treaties and the atrocities committed were generally on the side of the United States. The Navajo raids of Fort Defiance were conducted primarily after a perceived lack of regard for treaties or specific acts of violence by the military. In 1861, a treaty was signed to respect and protect Navajo land. This was then almost immediately violated by the New Mexico Volunteer militia, who raided Navajo encampments and destroyed farms and property.
Although Kit Carson is generally associated with the Long March, it was General James Carlton who ordered the Long March. A general Canè also associated with the idea of relocating the Navajo population to stop incursions by both sides. Kit Carson, however, oversaw the Long Walk first by destroying much of the Navajo land, possessions, and dwellings to bring about compliance.
For many, the Long Walk in 1863 took more than 20 days to complete. It is estimated that between 200-300 people died on the Long Walk. Some say one person died for every mile of the 300-mile (482.80 km) journey. The move had originally been planned for around 5000 people and therefore there was little land for survivors of the Long Walk. It was also not the arable land the Navajos were used to, but rather unforgiving land. Navajo accounts speak of the bitter taste of the water and the cruelty of the land.
During the months that followed, lack of arable land and scarce water contributed to starvation and disease, further reducing the Navajo population. It is estimated that by the time the Navajos were able to return to their homelands in 1868, a full quarter of the Navajos who took the Long Walk had died due to the hardships in their new land.
Due to lack of land, many believe the Navajo tribe became more closely related. As a Native American population, they have been better successful than most at holding tribal lands and actually augmenting them. Still, the long walk remains a reminder of despair and sadness for Navajo and Americans alike.
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