Paiute Tribe Paiute Food The Paiute civilization centered

Paiute Tribe

Paiute Food • The Paiute civilization centered around water sources such as springs • Mainly hunters and gatherers • Practiced limited irrigation from the Virgin, Santa Clara, and Muddy Rivers • Raised corn, squash, melons, gourds, sunflowers, and winter wheat

Paiute Culture • The Paiute culture is based around the family, extended families would form loose bands • Dance culture here as well • Monogamy, Polygamy, and polyandry

Paiute Homes • Because they are nomadic herdsman they live in moveable homes • Wickiups

The Paiute Tribe isn’t just located in Utah

Paiute Tribe in Utah • There are 5 bands, totaling 918 members – Cedar Paiutes – Indian Peaks Paiutes – Kanosh Paiutes – Koosharem Paiutes – Shivwits Paiutes

European Contact • The first recorded contact between Utah Paiutes and Europeans happens in 1776 with father Escalante’s mission party • In 1826 Jedediah Smith meets the Paiute • Continually raided by Utes and Navajos for the European Slave trade • Mormon’s move in and cause problems with foraging

European Contact • Due to the large amounts of Europeans moving into their territory conflicts arose • Pyramid Lake War

Pyramid Lake War • Largest conflict in Nevada to date • Rag tag gang of Nevada militia men are destroyed, roughly 100 casualties • Actual regular army come back • Battle ensues • Whites win

The Massacre at Mountain Meadows • Parley P. Pratt is killed • Apparently there’s a “Mormon Rebellion” that needs to be put down • A year before the massacre the mormon’s hear of a traveling army coming to kill them • Brigham Young’s “Scorched Earth” speech

Buchanan’s Blunder • James Buchanan sends Johnston’s army to Utah • Enter the Baker-Fancher Party

The Baker Fancher Party • Mistakes • Alienating the populace • Claims that they had killed Joseph and Hyrum Smith, as well as Parley P. Pratt

Cedar City • On September 8 the party reaches Cedar City and continues to be disrespectful and claim that they are a scouting party for the Army • Isaac Haight, the stake president and mayor, sends a rider to Salt Lake to see what he was to do • John Doyle Lee takes militia men to “scout” the area

John D. Lee Recruits the Paiute in the area Watches the Emigrant train for a few days Convinces the Paiutes to attack The party “spots” John Doyle Lee with the Paiutes • John decides it’s time to kill the train • •

September 11, 1857 • John Doyle Lee rides in under the flag of truce • Tells the party if they leave their weapons they won’t be harmed • Mormon’s ride up and pretend to give protection • Separate the men from the women and children • “Every man do his duty”

Aftermath • “Vengeance is mine, and here I have taken a little” –Brigham Young, according to the journal of Wilford Woodruff • Paiutes are blamed for the massacre for a long time • Mormon’s eventually take the blame • Conspiracy theorists