Unknown Narbona (1766 - 1849)

Died 30 Aug 1849 at about age 83 in Canyon de Chelly, New Mexico Territory

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Biography

Navajo Chief Narbona, was born a member of Tachíí'níí, the Red-Running-Into-The-Water People Clan, around 1766. Growing up, he was bigger than the other boys and this led to leadership. He was the first among his peers to be chosen to do men’s work, to learn certain skills and to go to battle. His life spanned to most difficult times for the Navajo people as neighboring tribes like the Utes and Pueblos and later the Comanches and the Apaches looked to take over Navajo lands. On top of all of this, during the late 1700’s, the Spaniards would begin expanding their holdings and influence in the region. The newcomers used trade and favoritism to force ever more pressure on the Navajo.

Over the years, despite the problems with the neighbors, Narbona would become one of the wealthiest members of the Navajo people. He had herds of sheep and cattle. He raised horses and had fields of corn and vegetables.

Narbona had witnessed many atrocities against the Navajo people in his life and as a result he became known for his prowess in many areas. His ability to lead the Navajos in battle against their enemies and then to treat with those very same enemies for concessions was revered by his people.

Eventually Narbona would be noticed by the leaders of the various other Navajo clans. They soon sought out his opinions and eventually recognized him as the one true leader of all the Navajo people. It was about this time that the first Americans started appearing in the southwest. The Navajo hated the Spaniards that had now become the New Mexicans, they knew of the French out to the east, but they would learn the Americans were something else.

When the Americans won the lands of the southwest, they inherited all the old revelries in the region as well. The Hispanic New Mexicans looked to their new leaders to protect them from the Navajo threat as Navajo raiding parties continued their age-old practices of taking what they could. It was under these conditions that the American leaders sent an expedition into the heart of Navajo country hoping to reach a peace agreement. The expedition took place in 1849, and the Americans were looking for Narbona, who they had been told was the one man that could speak for all the Navajos. A delegation led by American Colonel John M. Washington finally met with Narbona to discuss peace terms. The Navajo seemed willing enough and after many hours of negotiating, Narbona and his people agreed to the terms. As the meeting finally broke up an American soldier spotted a Navajo riding a horse the soldier claimed had been stolen from him. Colonel Washington demanded the horse be returned. The Navajo declined. Suddenly the disagreement escalated. The Colonel threatened to use force if necessary. The Navajos ran. Orders were given to fire upon the people, first with rifles and then with the cannons the army had brought. When calm was restored, seven Navajos had been killed. One of them was Narbona.

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His family prepared him for burial, carefully arranging his favorite possessions around him. Toward sunset, two of his sons carried Narbona's body, wrapped in a buffalo pelt with his jewelry, his buckskin war helmet, and bows and arrows, to drop it into a deep crevice. They stayed for four days and nights on a nearby hill, mourning for Narbona.

The man was gone, but his mark was forever engraved on the history of his people. The treaty to which he had given his consent was signed at Canyon de Chelly in September. The following year the United States Congress ratified it. During his long life, Narbona had gained and used many skills to protect his family from enemies of many descriptions. He had gained legendary fame by showing great courage and skill against the enemy. He had saved the people of his region from starvation by leading the long journey through Hopi country to water and new fields. He had sought peace honestly among leaders of three different nations which had ruled New Mexican territory, and he had kept his promises on many treaties by persuading many of his countrymen that peace was the best path to follow. Navajos far and wide paid him great respect for his knowledge of when to fight and when to press for peace. As an elderly man he had risked the difficult journey through enemy country to see for himself the new white neighbors. He had reported back faithfully of their power. On the day he died, he put his mark on the paper which resulted in the first treaty to be ratified between the Navajos and the United States. Narbona lived the honorable life of a great man, during the most difficult century the Navajos had ever known.

Source: Narbona, http://www.lapahie.com/narbona.cfm

Sources

• Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography: G-O, by Dan L. Thrapp, University of Nebraska Press, Aug 1, 1991. Pages 1041-1042. [1]

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narbona

• http://www.lapahie.com/narbona.cfm

• http://navajopeople.org/blog/narbona-primero-navajo-chief/

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102684273/narbona-primero