Tabby-To-Kwanah facts for kids
Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah (also known as Tabby, Tabiona, or Tabiuna) was an important leader of the Timpanogos people. He lived from 1789 to 1898. He became a leader when he was young. Later, he was a sub-chief under his cousin, Chief Walkara. This was when Mormon pioneers first arrived in the Timpanogos lands.
Tabby-To-Kwanah was one of the main leaders of a group of Timpanogos in southern Utah Valley. Other leaders included Chief Peteetneet and Grospene. His grandfather, Turunianchi, was the Timpanogos leader when Europeans first met the tribe during the Domínguez–Escalante expedition. The name Tabby-To-Kwanah means "Child of the Sun." The town of Tabiona, Utah is named after him.
Early Conflicts with Settlers
After Mormon pioneers built Fort Utah near the Provo River, problems started between the settlers and the Timpanogos. In February 1850, Brigham Young ordered the Timpanogos in Utah Valley to be removed.
The Mormon militia attacked the Timpanogos along the Provo River. Many Timpanogos fled south to where Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah's group lived. The Mormon militia then went to Timpanogos villages along the Spanish Fork River and Peteetneet Creek.
The Mormons promised to be friendly. However, they then lined up Timpanogos men and executed them in front of their families. Some tried to escape across a frozen lake. But the Mormons chased them on horseback and shot them. At least eleven Timpanogos were killed. In total, 102 Timpanogos died in the Battle at Fort Utah. The bodies of those who died were left unburied. When Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah returned with Chief Peteetneet and Grospene, they found their people's bodies. They were very angry and confronted the settlers at Fort Utah.
Working for Peace
Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah worked hard to create peace. He wanted to end the fighting between the Mormon pioneers and the Timpanogos. He was one of the main chiefs who attended peace talks. He signed the Shoshone Goship peace treaty in 1863. He also signed the Spanish Fork Treaty in 1865.
When Antonga Black Hawk led the Black Hawk War in Utah, Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah led the Timpanogos who wanted peace. He moved his people to the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. He tried to make sure his people followed the Spanish Fork Treaty. However, the U.S. government did not always follow their part of the treaty. This was partly because Brigham Young did not have the power to speak for the U.S. government.
As a way to protest, Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah led the Timpanogos into Thistle Valley in Sanpete County. They went there to hunt and dance in the spring of 1872. This made the Americans uneasy. Because of this, he was able to get the Americans to fulfill their promises for that year.
