UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2005 Political factionalism among the Mojave Indians, 1826--1875 Melinda A Oesterman University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Oesterman, Melinda A, "Political factionalism among the Mojave Indians, 1826--1875" (2005). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1796. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/rmpp-5mma This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. POLITICAL FACTIONALISM AMONG THE MOJAVE INDIANS 1826-1875 by Melinda A. Oesterman Bachelor of Arts University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1990 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in History Department of History College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2005 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1428583 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 1428583 Copyright 2005 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced witfi permission of tfie copyrigfit owner. Furtfier reproduction profiibited witfiout permission. Thesis Approval ITNTV The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas March 16 ■ 2005 The Thesis prepared by M elinda A. Oesterman Entitled Political Factionalism Among the Mojave Indians 1826-1875 is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History Examination Commmee Chair Dean of the Graduate College w eE m ination C om m ittee Me.vw erEm Exafydrifition Commitjee-Meînber ^'"^raduate College Faculty Representative 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Political Factionalism Among The Mojave Indians 1826-1875 by Melinda A. Oesterman Dr. Willard H. Rollings, Examination Committee Chair Professor of History University of Nevada, Las Vegas The Fort Mojave Indians of California and Mohave Indians of Arizona were once united on their aboriginal territory. Their lifestyle was impacted by interaction with the Spanish, fur trappers, military explorers and emigrant parties. Spanish interaction with the Mojave in the 1600s resulted in little change. The fur trappers of the 1820s generally lacked cultural awareness and respect of Mojave resources. Military expeditions along the 35* parallel into Mojave territory were generally well received and aided by some Mojave, while other Mojave were cautious of the “foreign invaders.” Emigrant parties soon followed causing alarm among the Mojave as they believed the emigrants would settle. The Mojave killed several emigrants resulting in the U.S. Military stepping in and pressuring the Mojave to surrender. Following the surrender, the philosophical division deepened withAratêve’s faction cooperating with the military and relocating to Parker Arizona, while Homose quahote's faction remained on their aboriginal territory. iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT..............................................................................................................................ni LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................... v LIST OF MAPS................................................................................ vi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2 ABORIGINAL TERRITORY.......................................................................3 Geologic Formation..............................................................................................................3 Colorado River and Basin.............................. 4 Geographic Location........................................................................................................... 7 Inhabitation .........................................................................................................................13 Climate.................................................................................................................................14 Flora and Fauna .................................................................................................................. 15 CHAPTER 3 MOJAVE LIFESTYLE............................................................................... 19 Clan System ....................................................................................................................... 20 Polity..................................... 23 Intertribal Relations ........................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER 4 NON NATIVE AMERICAN CONTACTS..............................................32 Spanish................................................................................................................................ 32 Fur Trappers and Miners....................................................................................................34 United States Military Exploration...................................................................................41 Emigrants.............................................................................. 55 CHAPTER 5 MILITARY INTERVENTION..................................................................64 CHAPTER 6 POST SURRENDER ERA..........................................................................79 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................ 87 BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................................................................................89 MAPS AND TABLES........................................................................................................... 95 VITA............................................................................................................................................ 115 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Geologic Events .................................................................................................... 96 Table 2 Hypothesized Mohave Valley Climate ............................................................... 97 Table 3 Flora of the Mohave Valley ..................................................................................98 Table 4 Fauna of the Mohave Valley ...................................................... ......................102 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF MAPS Map 1 Kroeber’s Aboriginal Territory M ap .................................................................106 Map 2 Tri-State Area M ap..............................................................................................108 Map 3 Colorado River And Basin M ap....................................................................... 109 Map 4 Mojave Cultural Sites M ap ................................................................................ 110 Map 5 Native American Tribal Territory M ap ............................................................ I ll Map 6 American Exploration Map................................................................................ 112 Map 7 Geographic Features Map...................................................................................113 VI Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Along the Colorado River, approximately sixty miles apart, live two groups of Native Americans, the Fort Mojave Indians of Needles, California and the Mohave Indians of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, Arizona. Traditionally and culturally the same people, these two groups once occupied the land along the lower Colorado River as a united people of one tribe (Map 1). The Native American tribe, historically known as the Mojave Indians, evolved into the divided