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.
