Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

March 20, 2004 - Issue 109

This Date In
North American Indian History

from On This Date in North American Indian History at http://americanindian.net

Mar. 20, 1864:

800 NAVAJOs, mostly women, children and old men, begin the 300 mile march to Fort Sumner and the Bosque Redondo Reservation, in east-central New Mexico. The group would pick up 146 additional NAVAJOs during the march. A powerful snow storm strikes the ill-equipped marchers during the trip. By the time they reach the new reservation, 110 NAVAJOs will have perished.

Mar. 21, 1883:

CHIRICAHUA APACHEs are raiding American locations then returning to Mexico. On this date, Chato, Bonito and Chihuahua raid a mining town near Tombstone. This is just the pretext General George Crook needs to mount a raid into Mexico to find the APACHEs.

Mar. 22, 1621:

Massasoit, Quadequina, Samoset (a PEMAQUID), Squanto, and 60 warriors visit the Plymouth colony with great ceremony. They will freely give lands to the pilgrims. According to some calendars, this will happen on April 2nd.

Lake Keowee Sunset

Mar. 23, 1730:

Today in Keowee, western North Carolina, Sir Alexander Cuming will hold a conference with 300 CHEROKEE Chiefs. Using threats and gifts, Cuming will get the CHEROKEEs to agree to acknowledge King George II of England as their sovereign.

Mar. 24, 1880:

Three Dozen SIOUX make off with 30 horses belonging to CROW Indian scouts, at Fort Custer, in south-central Montana. Captain John Mix, and 44 soldiers from Troop C, Second Cavalry, cover 65 miles in 11 hours to catch the SIOUX. During a skirmish, 16 of the stolen horses are recovered.

Mar. 25, 1713:

European and Indian forces under general James Moore, son of South Carolina Governor James Moore, have been attacking the TUSCARORA fort of Nohoroco, North Carolina, for several days. Today, they will finally capture the fort. During the fighting, 192 TUSCARORAs will be killed, and almost 400 will be taken prisoner. After this defeat, the TUSCARORAs will not be a significant force in North Carolina.

Mar. 26, 1682:

Today, on the Mississippi River, la Salle first meets the NATCHEZ Indians. This will be the first recorded meeting of Europeans with the NATCHEZ. Fellow explorer Henri de Tonti will be the first to meet them.

Mar. 27, 1973:

Sacheen Littlefeather refuses Marlon Brando's Oscar as a protest against media and governmental mistreatment of American Indians.

Mar. 28, 1957:

A court rules today that Montana State Courts "are without jurisdiction to try an Indian for the crime of larceny committed somewhere within the external boundaries of the BLACKFEET Indian Reservation, although conceivably the offense could have been committed within the town of Browning, Montana located on the reservation."

Joseph Brant

Mar. 29, 1797:

The MOHAWK treaty is signed at Albany today by 5 Indians, including Joseph Brandt. All of their lands in New York are ceded for $1000.

Mar. 30, 1854:

Indians successfully attack, and defeat a company of dragoons at Cieneguilla, New Mexico.

Mar. 31, 1877:

In Arizona, parts of the White Mountain - San Carlos Reservationrtain will be restored to public domain.

Apr. 1, 1536:

After being shipwrecked in Galveston, Texas, Cabeza de Vaca and a few men march across the continent to California. They will be the first "white men" to visit many Indian tribes. Today, Cabeza de Vaca will reach "civilization" again at San Miguel in New Galicia.

Apr. 2, 1975:

A 3 day National Conference on Indian Water Rights is convened today in Washington,D.C. Representatives from almost 200 tribes will attend the meeting.

For Information on This Date in Canada visit our friends at:

Canadian Aboriginal News
http://www.canadianaboriginal.com