Navajo Long Walk Read Online Free PDF

the village that white soldiers were hunting Navajos and wanted Utes and Hopis to lead them to Navajo hiding places. When I learned the Navajos were surrendering at Fort Defiance to be taken to Fort Sumner, a long way to the east, I knew I must escape or I might never see my family again.
    â€œI hid a small buckskin bag under a rock in a field. For many days I put bits of dried meat, corn and driedberries in it. One dark night I left the village. Hiding by day, walking by night, I ate whatever shoots and berries I could find to make the food in the sack last. After many nights I found the fort. A soldier frightened me half to death with his gun.”
    â€œThey will not shoot any Navajos,” Kee said. “Kit Carson made that promise when we were at the camp near the canyon.”
    â€œWell, I did not know that,” Gentle Woman replied. “I was afraid because I could not make the soldier understand I was looking for you. Then Long Earrings came where the soldier was guarding. He told me where I could find you.”

Chapter Eight
The Long Walk Begins
    One day Long Earrings came to talk to Kee. “Is your dog good at herding sheep?”
    Kee looked proudly at his dog, and declared. “Gray Dog is the best herd dog in all Navajoland.”
    Long Earrings grinned. “I am sure you speak the truth. We will soon be starting on the long journey to Fort Sumner. It will be too far and too hard a trip for Wise One to walk. If you and your dog will help herd the army sheep on the journey, I can ask for a place for Wise One to ride in one of the wagons.”
    Kee bristled. “I am Navajo. I will not herd the sheep the soldiers have stolen from the Navajos! Grandmother can ride on Small Burro. I have promised Eagle Feather I will help him. A Navajo does not break a promise.”
    â€œThese are difficult times,” Long Earrings said. “We must learn to compromise. Eagle Feather has only a few sheep. The army has many.”
    â€œBut he has no dog to keep them together. Besides, he is my friend.”
    Long Earrings shrugged as he walked away, saying. “But if we cooperate, the army’s sheep will feed us along the way.”
    Covered wagons, each with a team of oxen were drawn up near the fort. Wagons bulged with sacks of flour, sacks of beans, sides of bacon, casks of water. They wereso loaded down that only a few old people could ride. Some lucky Navajos still had horses to ride. Those having a few sheep and goats chose to walk with their grazing herd. Most of the Diné were on foot.
    Early on March 6, 1864, the first caravan climbed slowly out of the valley at Fort Defiance to follow roads made by army ox carts. Thirty wagons piled with rations were followed by 2,400 Navajos, 400 horses, and 3,000 sheep.
    Before starting the trek Gentle Woman said, “Our journey will be long. Let us try always to stay close together. Having each other is the most important thing in our lives. With so many people and animals it would be easy to lose one another.”
    Small Burro complained at being loaded again. Wise One walked beside him to gently soothe his hurt feelings. There was no room on him for her to ride.
    The first day seemed very long to Kee. Though he and Gray Dog were kept busy herding Eagle Feather’s sheep, he kept wondering how long the journey would take. Would it be too far for Wise One and Hasba to walk? What kind of place was it that they were going to? Would there be shelter there and enough to eat?
    Finally, after a day that seemed like forever, they reached their first campsite. The wagons were drawn into a large circle. Navajos were herded inside the circle. Kee angrily eyed the soldiers who kept watch outside the circle, seeing that no one escaped.
    The Diné shared what little wood they could find within their area and built fires to cook the rations handed out by the soldiers.
    The next morning when Kee, Hasba, and Gray Dog went to help Eagle Feather get his