Walkara facts for kids

Chief Walkara (around 1808 – 1855), also known as Wakara or Chief Walker, was an important Shoshone leader. He led the Timpanogo and Sanpete bands of Native Americans in the Utah area. Walkara was known for being a skilled diplomat, a great horseman, and a brave warrior. He led many raiding parties and was a key figure in the Wakara War.

When Mormon pioneers arrived in Utah in 1847, Walkara was the most powerful Native American chief in the region. Someone who met him in 1843 described him as the "principal ruling chief" who was wealthy and good at trading with white settlers.

About ten years after Walkara's death, in 1865, the Timpanogo people moved to the Uintah Reservation. They joined with the Northern Shoshone under Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah. Although some people mistakenly call Walkara a Ute, he was Shoshone. His name, Walkara, means "Hawk" in the Shoshone language. The Shoshone people are part of the Numic language family, which is a branch of the Uto-Aztecan languages.

A Timpanogos Leader

Walkara was born around 1808 near the Spanish Fork River in Utah. He was one of five sons of a Timpanogos chief. He spent a lot of time fishing along the shores of Utah Lake, in what is now Provo and Vineyard. Walkara could speak Spanish, English, and several Native American languages.

His brothers were also important leaders. These included Chief Arapeen, Chief San-Pitch, Chief Kanosh, and Chief Sowiette.

Leading Raids

Walkara gathered a group of warriors from different Great Basin tribes, including Ute, Paiute, and Shoshone. He often rode with his brothers on raids. His group raided ranches and attacked travelers in the Great Basin. They also targeted the Old Spanish Trail, which connected New Mexico and California. Smaller Native American groups in the area would pay him tribute. This was in exchange for his protection and help. Walkara was often recognized by the yellow face paint he wore.

Some people called him 'The Greatest Horse Thief in History.' He was especially famous in California for stealing about 3,000 horses in the 1840s. In some of these raids, his group fought against the Cahuilla leader Juan Antonio. Mountain men like James Beckwourth and Thomas "Pegleg" Smith traded with Walkara. They would give him whiskey in return for horses.

In 1845, Benjamin Davis Wilson tried to catch Walkara and his group. However, he never succeeded. Horsethief Canyon and Little Horsethief Canyon in the Cajon Pass are named after Walkara's daring actions.

The Mormon Era

When Mormon pioneers arrived in Utah in 1847, they found themselves between the Shoshone and Ute tribes. Both groups claimed the Salt Lake Valley. The settlers did not want to pay both tribes for the land. Brigham Young, the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, told settlers to avoid trading with Native American tribes.

Walkara's group was one of the most powerful Ute bands at this time. Walkara saw that trading with the settlers could make his group stronger. However, the Ute were angry about the Mormons building permanent homes. Walkara wanted to force them out. His brother, Sowiette, preferred to get along with the Mormons. After some disagreement, Walkara agreed with Sowiette. This led to an initial period of peace between the Mormons and the Timpanogo people.

Early Conflicts

The first violence between the Ute and Mormon settlers happened on March 5, 1849. Some Ute had stolen livestock from the settlers. In response, the settlers attacked some Ute, killing six. This event is known as the Battle Creek massacre. Later, in April, Walkara supported Ute attacks on Fort Utah. However, by May, Young and Walkara had formed a peaceful relationship.

In late 1849, Walkara asked Young to send settlers to the Sanpete Valley. Young sent about 225 settlers, led by Isaac Morley. They arrived in November at what is now Manti, Utah. They built temporary shelters for the winter. This was an isolated place, far from other Mormon settlements.

Relations between the settlers and the local Ute Indians were helpful. Morley and his settlers felt they were there to help the Native Americans. During a harsh winter, a measles sickness spread. The Mormons used their limited medicine to help the Indians. When Mormon supplies ran low, the Ute shared their food.

Growing Tensions

In 1850, Walkara and his son agreed to be baptized into the LDS Church. Walkara often traded women and children as slaves. He did this to get horses, guns, and ammunition. Mormon settlers tried to stop this practice. However, their efforts angered the tribe, who saw it as interfering with their trade.

Relations with the Mormon settlers quickly worsened. Walkara's raiding lifestyle was also under pressure. More federal troops were in the Great Basin. Mormon settlements were also expanding, taking up more land and resources. More non-Mormon traders and settlers were also moving through Utah. This led to more competition for water and resources. Some Native Americans were killed. Walkara and other leaders became very angry with both the "Mormonees" (Mormon settlers) and the "Mericats" (non-Mormon Americans).

Walker War

Growing tension between the Mormon settlers and the Ute Indians led to the Walker War. The war began on July 17, 1853. It started with a fight involving James Anderson Ivie in Springville. A Ute band member, Shower-O-Cats, who was a relative of Walkara, was killed. The Indians wanted payment for the death, but Ivie refused. This made the tension between the groups very high.

A group of Mormon militia went to Walkara's camp to try and find a peaceful solution. But they could not agree. The Utes demanded revenge, wanting a Euro-American to be killed. When the Mormons refused, the Ute shot and killed Alexander Keele on July 18, 1853. This event was a turning point. Indians began attacking nearby towns.

By July 25, Walkara was gathering Ute warriors for a war. Mormon leaders told settlers to strengthen their homes, store food, and protect their animals. Brigham Young also told settlers to move from isolated farms into central forts. They also heavily guarded travel routes between settlements.

Walkara and his warriors raided Mormon outposts in central and southern Utah. In response, pioneer militias fought back. For example, four settlers traveling from Manti to Salt Lake City were attacked and killed on September 30, 1853. Fighting continued until early November.

In December 1853, Brigham Young offered peace to all the Ute. They did not respond right away. On March 24, 1854, Young sent Major E.A. Bedell, a federal Indian agent, to meet with Walkara. Bedell asked if they would sell their land. Walkara said he would prefer not to sell if he could live peacefully with the white people, which he wanted to do.

Peace and Aftermath

The Walker War ended with a peace agreement. Brigham Young and Walkara personally negotiated it. The agreement was finalized in May 1854 in Levan. A photographer named Solomon N. Carvalho was there. He took a famous portrait of Walkara during this peace meeting.

Walkara died on January 29, 1855, from a "lung fever" at Meadow Creek, Utah. Even though the war ended, some problems were not fully solved. This led to another, longer conflict called the Ute Black Hawk War about ten years later.

During the Walker War, twelve white settlers and a similar number of Native Americans were killed. A monument was built in Memorial Park in Payson to remember a settler who died. Another was built in Spanish Fork, Utah at the site of the Old Palmyra Fort.

Tribe Members Join the Church

After the Walker War ended, on July 27, 1854, 120 members of Walkara's tribe were baptized into the LDS Church. This happened in Manti's City Creek. Walkara might have been re-baptized at this time. After his baptism, he was renamed Joseph Walker.

Slavery and Trade

There is discussion about Walkara's involvement in the slave trade. His descendants say that such activities were not part of their culture and would have been seen as dishonorable. Historically, some Ute tribes traded women and children. They exchanged them for supplies and horses. Some children were taken during raids and then sold to Mexican traders. These traders would then sell them as slaves in California or Mexico. A boy might be sold for about $100, and girls for $150 to $200.

At first, some church leaders seemed to support Walkara's trade. An Apostle named George A. Smith gave Walkara papers that said he wished him "success and prosperity and good bargains" for trading horses, buckskins, and "Piede children." Brigham Young also encouraged settlers to "buy up the Lamanite children as fast as they could." The goal was to educate them and convert them to the Mormon faith.

Death

Walkara died after a long illness, possibly pneumonia, on January 28, 1855, in Utah Territory. As the Chief of the Timpanogos, he had a special burial. He was buried in a small canyon in the mountains. His body was placed upright on a horse. Walkara's weapons and ammunition were put beside him. His personal horses were also killed to join him in the next life. He had a letter from Brigham Young in his hand.

Isaac Morley, a long-time friend, had promised to speak at the burial. Morley later described the difficult ceremony. He said he did not object to the traditions because he feared it would cause problems between Walkara's brothers and the white settlers.

|