Council reiterates opposition to Kit Carson monuments in New Mexico

Posted by Donovan Quintero | Dec 12, 2024 | News |

WINDOW ROCK

The Naabik’íyáti’ Committee has formally reaffirmed the Navajo Nation’s strong opposition to any monument commemorating Christopher “Kit” Carson being installed in New Mexico.

The resolution, sponsored by Council Delegate Brenda Jesus, comes in response to ongoing discussions regarding possible placements at notable sites such as Bosque Redondo, the Santa Fe Cemetery, and the Carson House and Museum in Taos.

The resolution highlights the historical context of Kit Carson’s actions during the 1863 campaign against the Navajo people.

Carson was a colonel of the First New Mexico Volunteers who led a destructive campaign that included the burning of crops, the destruction of homes, and the slaughter of livestock, according to a 2021 Navajo Times article. This military operation stemmed from Brigadier General James H. Carlton’s order for a “scorched earth” campaign aimed at forcing the Navajos into submission and relocating them to Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

“Carson and his troops terrorized the Navajo people,” states the legislation, which details the tragic consequences of Caron’s campaign. From 1864 to 1868, approximately 8,500 Navajo individuals suffered through what the bill describes as brutal conditions at Fort Sumner, where many experienced slavery, starvation, and disease. It is estimated that over 2,000 Navajos died there, with their remains often placed in unmarked graves, preventing traditional burial practices.

This legacy of violence has led to renewed calls for the renaming of places associated with Carson. For instance, a street sign bearing his name currently exists on BIA property in Fort Defiance, Arizona.

In 2021, Dr. Aaron Price expressed support for renaming the street to honor his great-great-grandfather, Hastiin Tséłbáí, a respected medicine man who was recognized by European royalty in the past.

Price emphasized the community’s desire to reevaluate how historical figures like Carson are remembered, comparing him to notorious figures such as George Armstrong Custer, and highlighting the war crimes attributed to Carson against Native peoples.

The momentum for change is not new. Former Delegate Mark Freeland of the 24th Navajo Nation Council introduced a similar bill in 2021 calling for the removal of Carson’s name from public spaces, including the Fort Defiance street.

“It has to go through the process,” Freeland remarked at the time. “I imagine it’ll get a lot of attention. It is the beginning of a movement. It is a recognition for Navajo, for our history.”

In contrast, the city of Taos is planning a celebration on Dec. 21 to honor Carson, despite the growing dissent surrounding his historical legacy. Taos also features several landmarks named after him, including the Kit Carson Museum and Kit Carson Park, which have become focal points for the ongoing debate over how history is commemorated. The city will also be unveiling a road named after him.