18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154

BEFORE THE I N D I A N CLAIMS COMMISSION

PUEBLO DE ACOMA. ) Docket No. 266 1

PUEBLO OF LAGUNA, ET AL., ) Docket No. 227 )

THE NAVAJO TRIBE OF INDIANS ) Docket No. 229 )

Pet i t ioners , 1 )

V 1 1

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

Defendant. 1 1

Decided: March 31, 1967

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Pe t i t ioner , the Pueblo de Acoma i s a duly recognized Pueblo of

American Indians r&iding within the t e r r i t o r i a l l i m i t s of the United

S t a t e s , wi th a t r i b a l organization recognized by the United S t a t e s a s hav-

ing au thor i ty t o represent the t r i b e and authorized t o maintain t h i s a c t i o n

under Section 2 of the Indian Claims Commission Act of August 13, 1946.

(60 S t a t . 1049) Pe t i t ioner a s a t r i b e i s e n t i t l e d t o maintain t h i s ac t ion

by reason of sa id Indian C l a i m s Commission Act of August 13, 1946, con-

f e r r i n g ju r i sd ic t ion on t h i s Commission t o hear and determine claims of

t r i b e s , bands, o r i d e n t i f i a b l e groups of American Indians a g a i n s t t h e

United S ta tes .

2. The Pueblo de Acma timely f i l e d i t s claim f o r recovery of com-

pensation f o r a large t r a c t of land i n western New Mexico which it claims w

t o have bxclusively used and occupied from time immemorial and of which i t

claims ownership i n 1848 when the United S ta tes acquired sovereignty over

New Mexico under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

18 Ind. C1. Comm. 154

The area claimed by p e t i t i o n e r i s as follows:

From the northerrmost po ia t of the boundary l i n e between the Acoma and Laguna ptseblos as determined by Judgment of J u l y 6, 1857 arid es tabl ished by s t i p u l a t i o n of the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos; and from t h i s point nor th t o the nor th end of Laguna Largo (Point 24), west t o C e r r i t o Z o r i l l a (Point 25), and along the north s ide of Wed H i l l s c lose t o San Mateo (Point 26) t o Per toci to (Point 28) ,/ on t o Laguna Monte (Point 29) and Mesa Elanca, northwest of Prewi t t (Point 3O), and f in - a l l y to Seja Colorado (Poin t 9); and from t h i s loca t ion , south betwezn Thoreau and Chavez t o Breece (Point 2) , on south t o Val le Largo between Points 1 and 2, ar,d then along Canon Muerto (Point 3) near Sawyer, and on south t o Pablano and Mesa Aguila (Point 6 3 , and on south t o Cerro Cabra (Point 7) and t o Cerro Mujer (Point 8) and Cerro Veteado (Point 9 ) , and south t o Cer-ro Techado (Point lo),; Erorn-here south and e a s t t o Grande Pablano, ha l f way between Cerro Techado and Tres Lagunas a t some o ld Acoma ruins (Point 11); from t h i s point e a s t along Loma Casado Venadcss (ease sf Poin t 11) and Canada Alamosa o r Alamocita Creek, following along the Sawtoogh Mountains t o Arroyo Soguetoso near McPhaul Ranch (Point 12) -'from here e a s t t o C e r r i t o Gall ina o r to meet the extension of the boundary l i n e between Acoma and Lagma Pueblos known a s Tres Hermays (Point 13); thence north along the boundary l i n e a s e s tab l i shed by Jfidginent of Ju ly 6 , 1857 and es tabl ished by s t i p u l a t i o n of t h e Acoma and Laguna Pueblos. (Pueblo de Acoma B r i e f , pp . 9-10)

"I3-e Po in t s i n the above descr ip t ion r e f e r t o those on p e t i t i o n e r ' s

Exhibi t NQ. 1, a map out l in ing the claimed area.

Included i n the above descr ip t ion i s the Acoma Purchase Area con-

s i s t i n g of 80,720.55 acres. This includes 48,880.74 acres of Rese t t l e -

ment Administration puochased land, administered by the Indian Service

by Executive Order of January 18, 1938; 31,199.81 acres of publ ic domain

land administered by the Indian Service under s e c r e t a r i a l order of

December 23, 1938, and 640 acres of public domain acquired i n exchange

wi th t h e S t a t e of New Mexico, t o be held i n t r u s t f o r the Pueblo de

Acoma. (Def . Ex. 6 7 , pp. 5-6)

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 154

Because p a r t of the area claimed by the p e t i t i o n e r herein was a l s o

claimed by the Pueblo of Laguna, p e t i t i o n e r i n Docket 227, and the Navajo

Tr ibe of Indians, pe t i t ioner i n Docker 229, the Commission consolidated

these three dockets for purposes of t r i a l insofar as the overlap a reas

were concerned. Dockets 227 and 266 were consolidated f o r t h i s purpose I

by ordar of the Commission dated 18 January 1955. The Commission consol-

ida ted Dockets 227, 266, and 229 f o r t h i s purpose by an order dated 3 Feb-

I ruarY 1961. The evidence and testimony r e l a t i n g t o any overlapping a reas

i n t h e above three dockets thereby became a p a r t of the record i n each

individual docket.

h t i t i o n e r herein claims t h a t defendant i s responsible for p e t i t i o n -

er's l o s s of the use of much of these lands by f a i l i n g t o p ro tec t p e t i -

t i o n e r ' s r i g h t s i n them and i n s e l l i n g and patenting some of them t o

o t h e r s ,

P e t i t i o n e r a l so claims compensation f o r s t h e loss of i r r i g a t i o n

waters occasioned by the enlargment of the'dam a t Bluewaterz on the

upper San Jose r i v e r i n 1927. P e t i t i o n e r a l l eges t h a t the l o s s of

these i r r i g a t i o n wateis resul ted i n the l o s s of the use of some of i t s C

lands; t h a t the United S ta tes was warned of possible damage t o the p e t i -

t i o n e r when such construction was proposed, but allowed the enlargment

of t h e dam i n s p i t e of pet i t ioner ' s p ro tes t s . Defendant denies l i a b i l i t y

f o r any of the above claims.

3. Boundary disputes between Acoma and Laguna exis ted as f a r back

a s t h e middle of the 18th century. F ina l ly , a s u i t t o s e t t l e the d i spu te

was f i l e d by the Pueblo de Acoma i n the ~ i s t r i c t Court of the T e r r i t o r y

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154 157

i of New Mexico fo r the Third J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , . .including Valencia County,

i n which the two pueblos were located.

On July 6 , 1857 the court entered a decree f ix ing the boundary be-

tween them. The decree reads i n p a r t a s follows:

* f i r s t , t h a t the Pueblo of Acoma and i t s inhab i t an t s s h a l l have f r e e and undisturbed possession and enjoyment of a l l t h e lands i n complaintant's b i l l mentioned, upon o r i r r i g a t e d by the Rio del Gallo _?an Jose/ from i t s source t o the lower p a r t o r s ide s f the Canada de 1; Cruz, including sa id Canada. Sec- ond: The dividing l i n e between s a i d Pueblos and the inhab i t - an t s thereof s h a l l be a l i n e drawn nor th and south from the eas te rn o r lower edge o r s i d e of the Canada de l a Cruz, where the Gallo &an Jose/ crosses the said-canada leaving t h e s a i d Canada f o r the Pueblo of Acoma and i t s inhabi tants . *** (Def . Ex. 41)

The p rec i se locat ion of the Canada de l a Cruz was t h e s u b j e c t of

almost coostant disagreement f o r many years. I n the Sawyer and McElroy

p l a t s of an 1877 survey, however, the junction of the Canada de l a Cruz

with the San Jose Valley i s shown i n the region of Puebl i to (Seama), a

mile o r so e a s t of the Pueblo of Acoma Grant a s confirmed and pa ten ted

t o t h a t pueblo by the United S ta tes . This geographic loca t ion was f i n -

a l l y agreed upon by the two pueblos i n 1877 a s the t r u e boundary describkd

i n the 1857 decree.

On May 11, 1959 the representat ives of Acoma and LaguPa and t h e i r a t t o r -

ney's entered i n t o a "Memorandum Agreement" which reads i n p a r t a s follows:

1. That-the boundaries a s set f o r t h i n sa id decree /%.y 6 , 1 9 5 2 and a s determined by the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of , * - t h e Pueblo de Acoma and the Pueblo of Laguna, i s the common boundary between Ranges 6 West and 7 West, N. M. P. M., com- mencing on the south common boundary l i n e i n Township 2 North and Township 3 North, and Range 6 ~ e & k and Range 7 West, . N. M. P. M., and proceeding i n a nor ther ly d i r e c t i o n along s a i d l i n e t o the southern boundary of Cubero Grant located wi th in Township 10 North, and what would be the common bound- ary t o Range 6 West and Range 7 West N . M. P. M.;

18 Ind. C 1 . Comrn. 154

Thence following sa id Cubero Grant along t h e southerly boundary t o the southwest corner thereof;

thence proceeding northwardly along sa id Cubero Grant t o a point where the Cebolleta Grant and the Cubero Grant meet;

thence following sa id westerly boundary of the sa id Cebolleta Grant t o a point known as Seco Springs, which i s a point i n Section 21, Township 11 North, Range 7 West, N. M. P. M.;

thence following along the eas te r ly boundary of s a i d sec- t i o n 21, nor ther ly along said sec t ion l i n e to t h e nor ther ly corners of Sections 3 and 4, Township 12 North, Range 7 West, N. M. P. M., and which point i s on the Township l i n e between townships 12 North and 13 North, N. M. P. M.

4. That the Pueblo of Acoma claims no r i g h t , t i t l e o r i n t e r e s t t o the property e a s t of the l i n e above described and t o be so surveyed; and t h a t the Pueblo of Laguna claims no r i g h t , t i t l e o r i n t e r e s t t o the property w e s t of the s a i d l ine .

5. That by reason of the determination-of &he l i n e es tabl ished by judgment and decree of 1858 /I8571 the Laguna Pueblo re leases and rel inquishes any and a l l ciaims which i t

has had f o r any land lying westerly of said l i n e , and Pueblo de Acoma re leases and rel inquishes any and a l l claims which i t has had f o r any land lying eas te r ly of s a i d l i n e . (Acoma Br ie f , pp. 113-116)

This agreement was signed by Timothy P. Analla, Governor, Walter

Sarracino, Chairman of Land Committee, Wallace'E. Leeds and P e t e r A .

Sarracino of the Pueblo of Laguna and Joe C. Rey, Land Claim Committee,

Joe A. Chino, and Syme R. Sanshez of the Pueblo de Acoma. It was

approved by Sam Dazzo, A t t o m ~ y f o r Pueblo de Acoma and Jay H. Hoag,

Attorney f o r the Pueblo of Laguna. Said agreement between the Acomas

and Lagunas el iminates any overlap insofar as t h e i r r e spec t ive claims

a r e concerned.

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154 159

4 . Pueblo Indians who have received v a l i d Spacish g ran t s have the

same r i g h t s t o aboriginal t i t l e under the Indian Claims Commission Act

a s those given t o o ther Indian t r i b e s . Pueblo de Zia e t a l . , v . United

S t a t e s , 11 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 147, 164. Therefore, as i n o t h e r abor ig ina l

t i t l e claims, the Commission must determine the boundaries of t h e lands

exclusively used and occupied by the Pueblo de Acoma. Lp l i n e wi th t h e

recent opinion of the Court of claims, the Commission should consider a l l

evidence determinative of the boundaries of the lands exclus ively used and

occupied by t h e Acornas up t o the da te they l o s t these lands ". . . through

t r e a t y o r otherwise." Sac and Fox Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, e t a l . ,

v. United S t a t e s , Court of Claims Afipeal No. 9-65, pp. 13-14, , decided

March 17, 1967. The Commission must a l so determine whether o r n o t t h e

Acomas l o s t the use of any of i t s aboriginal lands invo lun ta r i ly and i f

the defendant was the cause of such involuntary loss .

It has been previously determined by t h i s Commission t h a t a l l v a l i d L

Spanish o r Mexican land grants which came under American sovereignty by

v i r r u e of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo were p r i v a t e property a t the

time s a i d sovereignty attached. Since the t i t l e t o such lands had ves ted

i n the grantees of such t r a c t s a t the time the grants w e r e made, these

lands never became a p a r t of the public domain of the United S t a t e s .

Therefore, t h e United S t a t e s i s not lia b l e t o any Indian t r i b e f o r such

lands even though the p a r t i c u l a r t r i b e may have used and occupied p a r t s

of them from abor ig inal times. Pueblo de C o c h i t f v . United S t a t e s ,

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm, 154 160

7 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 422, 452, Pueblo de I s l e t a v. United S t a t e s , 7 Ind.

C 1 . Comm. 619. Hence, any v a l i d Spanish o r Mexican land grants o r p a r t s

thereof lying within the e x t e r i o r boundaries of the area found t o be

exclusively used and occupied by p e t i t i o n e r must be deducted from t h e

area f o r which recovery can be had.

5 . Several expert witnesses representing a l l of the p a r t i e s in-

volved herein t e s t i f i e d concerning the claimed area during the course

of the hearings. D r . Florence H. E l l i s appeared a s an expert i n t h e

f i e l d s of anthropology, archaeology and ethnology on behalf of both t h e

Acomas and Lagunas i n Dockets 266 and 227, and a l so f o r the defendant i n

Docket 229. H e r o r a l testimony, w r i t t e n repor ts and exhibj-ts supported

genera l ly the claims of the p e t i t i o n e r , the Pueblo of Acoma. Some of

t h e testimony and wri t ten repor t of D r . Myra Ellen Jenkins, an exper t

h i s t o r i a n re ta ined by the Laguna p e t i t i o n e r s , r e l a t e d t o the Acoma claim

and supported it. M r . Alfred E. Dit tert , Jr., an anthropologist , and M r .

Ward Allen Minge, a h i s to r i an and anthropologist , t e s t i f i e d f o r t h e Acomas.

The i r testimony and M r . Minge's w r i t t e n repor t s a l so supported t h e Acoma

claim. M r . David Brugge, an archaeologist , t e s t i f i e d concerning t h e

claimed a r e a on behalf of the Navajos, p e t i t i o n e r i n Docket No. 229.

H e t e s t i f i e d t h a t the Navajos were exclusively using p a r t of t h e a rea

daiimed by the Pueblo of Acoma but o the r p a r t s were conceded a s belong-

i n g t o p e t i t i o n e r . He a l so submitted a wr i t t en repor t . D r . Robert Rand,

an anthropologis t , t e s t i f i e d fo r the defendant. He maintained both i n

h i s o r a l testimony and wr i t t en repor t s t h a t p e t i t i o n e r did n o t use a l l

of t h e claimed area u n t i l a date subsequent t o 1848 and t h a t p a r t s of t h e

18 Ind. C1. Comm. 154 16 1

claimed area were a l so being used by other Indians such a s t h e Navajos,

Lagunas and Apaches.

6 . I n her repor t , Joint Acoma-Laguna Exhibit 527, D r . E l l i s l i s t s

a number of geographical locations which she has i d e n t i f i e d a s being Acoma.

This iden t i f i ca t ion was based, f o r the most p a r t , on the p o t sherds c o l l e c t e d Y

one each site. She described the geographical locat ion of each s i te , t h e

d i f fe ren t types of pottery and the number of sherds of each type found a t

-each site. A t the beginning of Chapter V I e n t i t l e d "Description of Acoma

Pueblo Sites1', D r . E l l i s says:

This survey indicates tha t the Acoma herding and hunting groups were well:.extended throughout the Acoma land c la im periphery.

D r . E l l i s has located these Acoma use a reas on Acoma Exhibi t LA and

Acorn%-Laguna J o i n t Exhibit 528 (b) . I n connection with Navajo occupation i n p a r t s of t h e claimed a rea , D r .

E l l i s l ists the following places as e i t h e r having no evidence of Navajo

occupation or- evidence showing t h a t the Navajos w e r e the re i n comparatively . . recent t i m e s : Hasstack M t . , E l Morro, Tres Lagunas and Western Alamocito

Creek, San F i d e l Creek, Big Spring Canyon, LO& Canyon, Ambrosio Lake

and San Mateo Roads junction, and Ojo d e l Gallo. D r . E l l i s s a i d t h a t i n

the Bluewater and Prewit t areas there were two small hogans wi th Navajo

po t t e ry near them about two m i l e s e a s t of P rewi t t but t h a t t h e o t h e r hogan

remains wi th in the area showed associa t ion of modern t r ash . ( J o i n t

Exhibi t 527, pp, 74-75).

D r . E l l i s t e s t i f i e d tha t ne i the r the Navajos o r any o the r t r i b e except

t h e Acomas l i v e d i n the claimed area f o r any period of t i m e (Tr. 184~188) .

18 Ind. C 1 . .Corn. 154

However, she s a i d t h a t the Zunis hunted j o i n t l y wi th the Acomas along the

western boundary of the claimed area near E l Morro bu t t h i s was by per-

mission of the Acomas. (Tr. 192) She a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t M t . Taylor was

used by various Indian t r i b e s including Navajos, Acomas and Lagunas. (Tr.

209) I n her testimony i n Docket No. 229 D r . E l l i s t e s t i f i e d t h a t the l i n e

she had drawn on defendant 's Exhibit E-100 was t h e area which the Navajo

exclus ively used and occupied except fo r occasional ga ther ing and hunting

by t h e puebloor She a l so sa id t h e Navajos came on occasion i n t o t h e l i

pueblo a reas f o r the same purpose. (Tr. 9111) I n t h i s testimony and on

1 Def. Ex. E-100 D r . E l l i s excludes the M t . Taylor area from the a rea which

a

t h e Acomas exclus ively used and occupied i n 1848 o r any date subsequent the re to .

~ c o r n a - ~ a ~ u n i Jo in t Exhibit No. 530, prepared by M r . Minge and D r .

Jenkins , has t h e general conclusion t h a t t h e Navajos w e r e ra id ing t h e

pueblos f o r some t i m e p r i o r t o and during t h e American period and t h a t

t h e Navajos t h a t were i n t h e Acoma-Laguna areas during the American period

were temporary res iden t s , r a ide r s , inv i t ees , o r s e t t l e d i n t h e a rea some

t i m e a f t e r t h e t i m e American sovereignty at tached t o the lands i n ques-

t i o n . This e x h i b i t supports the Acoma claim t o exclusive use and oc-

cupancy of t h e claimed area i n t h i s respect .

Acoma Exhibi t No. 104, prepared by M r . Minge, t r aces t h e land claims

of t h e Acomas from Spanish t o modern t i m e s and concludes t h a t the United

S t a t e s was responsible fo r the Acoma's l o s s of t h e i r abor ig inal lands

because of delays i n surveying, confirming and patenting t h e i r lands,

delays i n s e t t i n g up a judic ia l apparatus f o r determining land claims i n

t h e =area, and because of the ambivalent a t t i ude of the Federal cour t s F

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 154 16 3

i n defining the s t a t u s of the Pueblo Indians. The repor t concludes t h a t

these things encouraged encroachment on Acoma lands by non-Indians and

resul ted i n a loss t o them of a 1arge .por t ion of t h e i r a n c e s t r a l lands.

Pe t i t ioner i n Docket No. 229, The Navajo Tribe of Indians, claims

t h a t ,

A t the time of the American occupation of t h i s t e r r i t o r y i n 1846 and a t the time of the t r ea ty of Guadalupe H i d a l w wi th Mexico February 2, 1848 (9 S ta t . 922), t h e Navajo ~ r i b e ' 'dxclu- s ive ly used and occupied a l l of the area of the Acoma claim, a s it i s purportedly shown on Acoma-Laguna J o i n t Exhibit 528-B, Acoma S i t e Map, excepting only a smaller area bounded on t h e nor th by Cubero and San Jose, on the northwest by the south s i d e of Lobo Canyon, Grants, and Ojo d e l Gallo, on the w e s t and south by t h e upper l i m i t s of the area drained by Acoma Creek, Arroyo Colorado, and the Minor drainages enter ing t h e San J o s e River from the south between the northeast t i p of the lava flow and Acoma Creek, and on the e a s t by the lands of the Laguna Pueblo. (Navajo Br ie f , p . 15)

The Navajo p e t i t i o n e r c i t e s many exhibi ts t o show Navajo occupation i n

$he Acoma claimed area. Among these exh ib i t s are Navajo Exhibi ts , 520-1,

M r . Brugge, the expert archaeologist t e s t i f y i n g f o r the Navajo p e t i -

t ioner , wi th t h e a i d of Jerry Dawson, D r . E l l i s ' a s s i s t a n t , checked sev-

e r a l of the sites described by D r . E l l i s i n Acana-Laguna J o i n t Exh ib i t

527 and t e s t i f i e d concerning them i n the course of the hearing i n Docket

NO. 229. M r . Brugge's wr i t ten observations on the s i t e s which he checked

a r e contained i n Navajo Exhibit 710. _ M r . Brugge investigated two s i t e s , A-23 and A-28 located on Acoma-

Laguna J o i n t Exhibi t 528-g and reported them i n Navajo Exhibi t 710. A-23

located on .the northern edge of the Acoma claim was i d e n t i f i e d by M r .

Brygge a s Navajo and by D r . E l l i s as Acoma. They disagreed on the

-

18 Ind. C 1 . Com. 154 164

iden t i f i ca t ion of the po t t e ry found there . S i t e A-28, located near the

western border, was i d e n t i f i e d by D r . E l l i s as Acoma and by M r . Brugge

a s Laguna (Tr. 9465-9488) The other s i t e s invest igated by Er. Brugge

and reported i n Navajo Exhibi t 7 10 a r e ou t of the Acoma claimed area .

The other s i t e s i n the claimed area which D r . E l l i s i d e n t i f i e d as being

Navajo, s i t e s A-47 and 8-32, located on Acoma-Laguna Ex. 528(b), w e r e dated

by her a s having been used during the Bosque Redondo period (1864-1865)

f o r hideouts, o r s i t e s used by the Navajos while working f o r o r t r ad ing

wi th t h e Acomas. ( Jo in t Acoma-Laguna Exhibi t 527, pp . 267-269)

Navajo Exhibits 520-1, 520-5 and 520-L contain t h e r e p o r t s of t h e

archaeological inves t igat ion by the Navajo experts i n the Acoma-Laguna

claimed areas, Exhibit 520-1, reported 17 s i t e s i n the Cebol le ta Mesa a rea , - ,

."% $ sites E-RP-CM-A through T. of the 17, s i x were i d e n t i f i e d a s pre-Fort -

Sumner (before 1964) Navajo s i t e s , 7 were dated post-Fort Su-er and e i t h e r

t h e dat ing o r the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of t h e remaining four si tes could not be

determined. O f the 6 pre-Fort Sumner Navajo sites, a l l w e r e i d e n t i f i e d a s

Navajo based on the s t r u c t u r a l d e t a i l s of t h e si te, f i v e w e r e da ted pre-

F o r t Sumner by the use of t r e e r ings and the remaining one by t h e small

hogan s i ze . Exhibit 520-1 l i s t e d 25 si tes i n the Upper San Jose area , s i t e s

E-RP-USJ-A through Y. Of these 25, seventeen were dated post-Fort Sumner

and t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of another 3 s i t e s could not be determined. Of the

f i v e pre-Fort Sumner Navajo s i t e s , a l l located i n Borrego Pass approximately

1% m i l e s from Crownpoint, New Mexico, th ree were dated pre-Fort Surner

based on pot tery and the o ther two by the small hogan s i ze . Two of t h e

f i v e w e r e i d e n t i f i e d as Navajo by the use of pot tery and t h e o t h e r t h r e e

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 154 16 5

by the s t ruc tu ra l d e t a i l s of the sites. I n addit ion, Exhibi t 520-1 con-

tained the report of 19 s i t e s i n the San Mateo area, s i t e s E-RP-SktA

through S. The iden t i f i ca t ion of seven of these s i t e s was not determin-

able and another f i v e were dated post-Fort Sumner. Of the seven remaining

we-For t Sumner Navajo s i t e s , four were iden t i f i ed as Navajo based on I'

the s t r u c t u r a l d e t a i l s of the s i t e s and the remaining t+ree by po t t e ry . 1

Three of the seven were dated pre-Fort Sumner because of the small hogan

s i z e , contiguous cor ra l s and near ash dumps; three on t'he b a s i s of po t t e ry ;

and . n e because of t r ad i t ion . Exhibit 520-2, contains t h e r e p o r t s of 28 s sites i n the Alamocito Creek Area, s i t e s S-AS-&-A through BB. The i d e n t i -

f i c a t i o n of f i v e of these s i t e s was not determinable and t e n were dated

post-Fort Sumner. Of the remaining t h i r t e e n iden t i f i ed a s pre-Fort Sumner

Navajo sites, all were iden t i f i ed a s Navajo s i t e s based on t h e s t @ c t u r a l

s i te and complex. Eight of the t h i r t e e n were dated pre-Fort Sumner based

on s m a l l hogan s i ze , ash dumps near the hogans, and the use of burned o f f

timbers. The remaining f ive,were dated by means of t r e e r ings .

I n h i s repor t , Acoma Exhibit No. 89, Dr . Rands t r a c e s t h e h i s t o r y

of both the Acoma peoples and the area where they l ived from pre -h i s to r i c

t o modern t i m e s . H i s report i s based on:historical documents and t r e a t i s e s

ag we l l a s information obtained from informants. H e d i d not make any

archaeological invest igat ion. I n h i s repor t he makes the following con-

c lus ions f o r the period from 1846 t o the 1060's respecting the Acomas:

1. The Acoma raised g rea t quant i t ies of peaches, pre- sumably i n the valleys c lose to the Penol.

2. Acoma sheep, c i i t t l e and horses were numerous. How widely t h e sheep were herded i s not known, but many f locks

18 Ind. Cb. Comm. 154 I

166

were encountered some dis tance from the Penol, along what seems t o have been t h e Acoma Valley i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of Laguna.

3. The Acomas i r r i g a t e d i n t h e San Jose Valley, west of Laguna. How c lose t h e i r farms extended toward Old Laguna i s not c l e a r , but farming through t h i s area seems t o have been r e l a t i v e l y uninterrupted, wi th no s i z b l e block of land sepa- a r a t i n g the Acomas and Lagunas. ~b the west, the Acoma farm- lands seem t o have extended a t l e a s t a s f a r as Acomita and qu i t e possibly McCartys.

* * * * *

8. JHHe NO o ther Acoma town than t h a t on the Penol i s mentioned. Nevertheless the Acoma, and perhaps the Laguna a s we l l , must have had addi t ional farming set t lements of s m e s o r t , along the San Jose, perhaps on a seasonal bas is .

9. Economy emphasized the gather ing of p in ion and perhaps o the r wild p lan t products, to the e x t e n t t h a t "a l a rge por t ion of the inhabitants1' was s a i d t o be gone a t one time from Old Laguna. Gathering may w e l l have been equally important among t h e Acoma, but data a r e lacking.

10. Friendly Navaho andov oval's band) were l i v i n g i n the region about Cebolleta (persumably on the Chupadero Mesa). Other Navahos l ived back of Cebol le ta , e i t h e r i n the nor thern p a r t of the San Mateo Mountains o r s t i l l f a r t h e r nor th , out- s i d e t h e area of the Acoma Claims, ** (Def. Ex. 89, pp. 74-75)

The genera l conclusion i n h i s r epor t i s t h a t the Acomas d id no t use a l l

t h e claimed area u n t i l a t i m e subsequent t o 1848, and t h a t o t h e r Ind ians

t such a s t h e Laguna and Navajo were a l s o using p a r t s of the claimed a rea

i n 1848 and the period subsequent there to .

7. The ancestors o f . t h e Acomas were two groups of peoples, one of

which had inhabited the Acoma claimed a r e a s ince e a r l y p r e h i s t o r i c times.

The o t h e r group came i n around 1300 A.D., o r a l i t t l e e a r l i e r from the

Mesa Verde a rea ( E l l i s , Tr. 6747, Dkt. 229) .

The o r i g i n and settlement of the people of Acoma i n the a r e a i n

s u i t can be traced i n archeology, t r a d i t i o n , and h i s t o r i c a l accounts.

18 Ind. C l . Cow. 154 16 7

Archaeologists and anthropologists designate t h i s area as the Acoma Cul-

t u r a l Province while h i s t o r i c a l accounts speak of the Acoma province.

The ancestors of the Acoma people inhabited lands e a s t to the Rio

Grande i n periods before the founding of Laguna. Since t h a t time the

Acoma people have tended t o remain and s e t t l e west of Laguna lands. Some

t i m e between 1200 and 1300 A.D., t he nucleus of Acoma c u l t u r e was estab-

l i shed a t the Pen02 o r rock, and i s now cammonly refer red t o as Acoma

Pueblo o r Old Acoma. This v i l l age of Old Acoma i s located a t the louth-

e a s t e r n corner of modern Acoma Pueblo grant , and has dominated the region

c u l t u r a l l y and p o l i t i c a l l y from p r e h i s t o r i c times. It is unusual t o f i n d

the main pueblo of an Indian t r i b e located completely of f-center of a

Spanish g ran t ,

I n e a r l y times the ancestors of the Acoma peoples occupied a broad f

a r e a from the Rio Grande w e s t t o E l Morro, nor th t o Mount Taylor and an

u n i d e n t i f i a b l e distance south of the main AcbrUa v i l l age . This area has

been r e f e r r e d .to a s the Acoma Province. Thqpe have been two per iods

when t h e Acoma Province, .because.,of..its i s o l a t i o n and protec t ion afforded,

received migrants o r refugees. During the Thirteenth Century, i n c l u s i v e

the,I?eriod of t h e Great Drought, 1276-1299, the Province received an un to ld

number of migrants. Some of them stayed, while others moved on. A t t h e

t i m e of t h e pueblo revol t and reconquest, 1680-1699, the Acoma Pueblo a t

t h e Penol received rebell ious Indians a s refugees. These may have in -

cluded Ind ians of Cochiti Pueblo, the Peco, Queres, Apaches, Moquinos,

Themes, Taos, Zuni, and Los Jemes. There i s no evidence t h a t these

Ind ians remained a f t e r the reconquest o r t h a t they occupied the lands i n

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 154 168

8. The Acoma Province comprised a broad area from the Rio Grande

west t o E l Morro, nor th t o Mount Taylor, and an indef inable d i s t ance

south of the main Acoma v i l l a g e .

P r i o r t o the a r r i v a l of Spanish exp lo re r s i n 1540 a l a rge number

of Acoma v i l l a g e s exis ted i n the Acoma Province a t d i f f e r e n t times and

places. Evidence concerning the use and occupancy of t h e Acoma Province

c o n s i s t s of archaeological f indings , t r a d i t i o n s , h i s t o r i c a l accounts and

t h e declara t ions of members of the Acoma t r i b e . Many r u i n s of v i l l a g e s

formerly inhabited by the Acoma peoples a r e found i n t h e Los Veteados and

LOS P i l a r e s areas. The land around t h e Mesa D e l Oro i n the south and t h e

Puer toc i to areas t o the nor th near SanMateo contain evidence of use by the

Acomas p r i o r t o 1300. The western ha l f of t h e Acoma Province conta ins a

l a r g e number of ru ins indicat ing t h e widespread use of t h e a rea by t h e

Acoma peoples i n e a r l y t i m e s . Around 1200 A . D. the Acoma po t t e ry became

d i s t i n c t i v e from t h a t made by the Zuni Indians f a r t h e r t o the west although

t h e r e i s evidence of considerable t r ad ing wi th t h i s pueblo i n t o modern

t i m e s . Thus, Acoma pottery s t y l e s . a r e t r aceab le from t h e 1200's o r e a r l i e r .

Acoma p o t t e r y is d i s t i n c t i v e not oniy i n s t y l e but because of the volcanic

s tone temper used i n making it. The f indings of Acoma occupation i n the

Acoma province a r e based on po t t e ry c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , anaiyses of m a t e r i a l s

from caves,. ash dumps, and ru ins of o l d v i l l a g e s i t e s , stonework and mason-

e ry . Dates of such occupation w e r e e s t ab l i shed through p o t t e r y . c l a s s i f i c a -

t i o n , dendrochronology, legends,. and interviews with Indian informants.

P o t t e r y found i n the eas tern p a r t of the Acoma province shows e a r l y Acoma oc-

cupat ion i n t e r r i t o r y : :which l a t e r came t o belong t& :otEer.: pueblo Indians.

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154

These archaeological f indings indicate tha t no outs ide groups occupied

the claimed area before the Spanish a r r i v a l .

About the year 1300 a small group of people wandered through cen-

t r a l and eas te rn sect ions of the Acoma Culture Province, apparently from

the Mesa Verde area i n Colorado, but they did not s t ay long. Another

group from the Hopi region of Arizona wandered down the San Jose River,

stopped a t Pot tery Mount f o r a while, then moved on.

A t t he t i m e of the f i r s t Spanish explorat ion i n 1540, Acoma peoples

occupied the va l l ey along the San Jose River. Continuous occupation

during the 17th and 18th centur ies i s evidenced by extensive i r r i g a t i o n

along t h i s r i v e r . The Spanish were impressed by the farming and irri-

gating which had ex i s t ed f o r hundreds of years. Evidence of s imi la r

occupation wi th the use of dry farming exis ted south and w e s t , and south

and e a s t , of t h e Acoma Pueblo, especial ly i n the region known a s Paradise

Valley. The main v i l l a g e s , not counting the subsidiary v i l l a g e s o r

rancherias occupied by the Acoma people during the 17th and 18th centur-

ies, w e r e the Pueblo of Acoma on the Penol, Kowina, and Sea#a. The main

v i l l a g e s occupielt durfng the 19th century were Kowina, McCartyts, Acomita,

Seama, Locomotive Rock, Spider Spring, Cebolla, Acoma and Questa.

Acoma potsherds from farming s i t e s and herding camps a r e found i n

many places throughout the area i n s u i t . People l ived p a r t of the t i m e

i n small farm v i l l a g e s o r rancherias but used the l a rge r pueblos a s

t l ie i r home a r e a . This pract ice extended from p r e h i s t o r i c times i n t o the

20th century. These v i l l ages and rancherias ranged from one house t o twenty

and t h e i r h a b i t a t i o n a l t e red with r a i n f a l l and avai lable sources of water.

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154 1 7 0

9 . The Acoma peoples cu l t iva ted and i r r i g a t e d f i e l d s along the San

Jose River continuously from pert l is toric t o modem- times. These a r e s s

are located a r o ~ n d small ranch and v i l i e g e s i t e s discovered tbxocgh pot-

sherd deposits , stonework, evidences of i r r i g a t i o n , and the testimony

of the Acornas themselves. Dry farxing ex i s t ed i n o t h e r a reas t o the

south, e a s t , w e s t and nor th of the Acana Penol, a t soine d i s t a n c e froin

. sa id Acoma Peg~ol. This p rac t i ce continued t o mod.er~ times. D u r i ~ g the

hearing i n 1884 r e l a t i v e t o the S a y e r ~ r l d McElroy survey, c u l t i v a t a d

lands and orchards were described 2s e x i s t i n g a t l e a s t 15 miles southward

of the present south boundary of the Acoma Grart. (Def. E x . 89 , p p . 80-

8 1)

Families who farmed i n various locs t ions Co the south. moved t o Old

Acoma f o r the w i a t e r . The larger d w e l l b g s alozlg the San Jose Ether, such

a s at Acornitha appeared during the 1880's and 1890's a f t e r che danger from

ra id ing Navajos had passed. The Acomas who had srnnner hcmes i n va r ious

loca t ions along the San Jose River, wintered a t A c o ~ i t a . The lands which

the Acomas have famed s ince 1850 a r e described by t h e Acomas a s follows:

A r a t h e r l a rge area nor th of Grants and along the Ssn Jose River , south

of Grants a r o ~ n d Qjo d e l Gallo and S a n Rafael , south somwhat f u r t h e r a t

Cerro Carnero, jus t west of the lava flow, along the nor thern boundary

l i n e of tbe Acoma Grant following both s ides of the San Jose River , the

Cebol le ta Spring and P i l a r e s are,& s t a r t i n g j u s t beyond the southwest

corner of the Acema Grant l i n e , CeSolleta Mesa and Blue Meadow a r e a s , and

the Petoche region south betwee3 Acoma Pueblo and Erooin Mountain. (Acoma

Proposed Findings and Br ie f , p. 24)

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 154

10. A t the time of the a r r i v a l of the Spanish no herding i s men-

tioned because the Acoma peoples r e l i e d on cotton and hunting f o r mate-

r i a l s f o r clothing and other s imi la r purposes. Sheep herding appeared

among the Acomas i n the seventeenth ande igh teen th cen tu r ies but was

only nominal u n t i l the l a t t e r century, Throughout t h i s period and up

usl t i l the eighteenth century the Acomas were noted f o r t h e i r exce l l en t

weaving of cotten. Sheep camps, i d e n t i f i e d p r inc ipa l ly from small col -

l ec t ions of potsherds a t various s i t e s , a re found sca t t e red throughout

the claimed area and date back t o the Spardsh period of t h e eightee~th

century, The eighteenth century was a period of extended Navajo and

Apache r a i d s which r e s t r i c t e d herding but there was marked increase i n

herding s t a r t i n g with the nineteenth century. There was a tendency

throughout t h e neineteenth and e a r l y twentieth centur ies t o graze t h e

larger herds r e l a t i v e l y f a r out. The smaller herds would be kept c l o s e r

the se t t lements unless canbined i n t o a l a rge r herd by t h e i r owners

who would then drive them t o farwreaching grazing razges, e s p e c i a l l y

during the summer a f t e r lambing and shearing.

The Acoma herded along the southern slopes of Mount Taylor a s w e l l

a s around Laguna Monte and Laguna Ambt~sio. This range extended f r o m

Cerro Azavoche, Mesa Cuchillo and Laguna San Jose north t o beyond t h e

Acoma claim. The Acoma a l so herded i n a large area nor th and west of

Bluewater, roughly between Bluewater and Thoreau and nor th of the San

Jose River,

18 Ind. C 1 . Comrn. 154

The Acoma western herding area extended from the San J o s e River

southward along the Zuni Mountain range, mainly £0 llowing the e a s t e r n

slopes of the Ccntinental Divide. Flocks were wintered a t EncFerro i n

the lava beds which became the most extensively used of t h e d i s t 2 n t

Acoma ranges i n r e l a t i v e l y recent times. Summer grazing extended over

a l a rge expanse t o the south, southeast and southwest of t h e Acoma Pueblo

Grant, such as i n the area of Cebolleta, south through Cerro Veteado,

Cerro Techado and southeast t o Tres Lagunas along Alamocito Creek and

on to Cerro Mohino. They herded i n the area from Seven Ceders d o w ~ t o

Red Lakes, wintered d i r c t l y south of Acoma Pueblo i n the Fetoche a rea ,

the nearby lava beds, o r near Brush Mountains southeast of t h e l ava

beds, and a l so herded on the slopes of the Sawtooth Mountains. "Accord-

ing t o the Acoma, t h e i r grazing ranges were formerly much more e s t e n s i v e - -

but: have gradually been taken over by outs iders , e s p e c i a l l y Laguna. I t

i s poss ib le t o recognize areas t o the e a s t , northeast , northwest , and

f a r w e s t t h a t , successively, a r e claimed t o have been los t . " (Def. Ex.

89, p. 88)

I n 1924, M r . C. E . F a r i s , Special Supervisor i n Charge, Southern

Pueblos, pointed out t h a t the Acomas had some 10,000 sheep and 1800

c a t t l e and horses and, due t o the drought, were a t a l o w ebb i n t h e i r

s tock possessions a t t h a t time. Sheep grazing on thFs type of spa rse

range required 10 acres per head and c a t t l e and horses 40 t o 50 ac res

Per head. It was obvious from these s t a t i s t i c s , F a r i s s a i d , t h a t t h e

Acornas needed much more land than the 95,792.66 acres contained i n t h e

Acoma Grant of 1877.

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 154

11. The ga ther ing of wild p l a n t s f o r d i e t a r y purposes was very i m -

p o r t a n t t o the Acomas. P a r t of t he reason f o r t h i s w a s due t o the i s o l a -

t i o n of t h e Acoma Province and the need f o r s e l f s u f f i c i e n c y . F r u i t s

and n u t s such a s jun iper b e r r i e s , acorns, and wi ld c h e r r i e s were gath-

e r ed from p laces ou t s ide the claimed a r e a such a s the Sawtooth Mountains,

t h e Zuni Mountains and Mount Taylor . Pinpn n u t s were gathered i n t h e Zuni

Mountains, Mount Taylor , and £rain P i e Town and beyond. Yucca was widely

ga thered almost a s f a r south a s P i e Town and n o r t h of Laguna kimbrosio,

o u t s i d e of t h e nor thern budndary of Acoma's graz ing area . Rocky Moun-

t a i n bee weed w a s gathered ex tens ive ly i n t h e canyon country south of

Acoma and i n t h e f l a t s toward and along t h e Rio Fuerco near Suwawz,

Ojo Escondido, and south of Mesa Gigarnte. Some ga ther ing was a l so done

west of T i n a j a i n t o the Zuni country. Wood was obta ined from t h e f a r

mountains and gypsum s e l e n i t e f o r use a s windows Fas procured from Mesa

Lucero s o u t h e a s t of Mesa d e l o r o .

12. Hunting a reas t h a t have e x i s t e d and have been used w i t h i n the

memory of Acoma peoples i n t he l a t e 1800's t o modern tires are loca t ed

bo th w i t h i n and without the claimed area. Th i s inc ludes Mount Taylor

t o t h e n o r t h and i n the reg ion of Cebo l l e t a P l a t eau axid Putney Mesa.

Deer hun t ing was pursued f a r beyond t h e claimed a rea i n t he Sawtooth

D a t i l , T u l a r o s a and Mogollon Mountains a s w e i l as toward the 2-mi S a l t

Lake. Antelope were hunted on the North P l a i n s and wi ld goa ts i n t h e

l ava beds. The hunting expedi t ions were sometimes of two o r t h r e e weeks

d u r a t i o n , t h e meat being f r i e d a t camp and then t ranspor ted home on

bu r ros . I n c a s e of need, i t was the p r a c t i c e of o the r Indians t o s h a r e

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 154

t h e i r respective hunting a reas , but a t the same time boundaries were

recognized.

13. Because of the long inhab i t a t ion of the Acoma Province and

because the Acomas are a r e l ig ious conservative people, there a r e many

shr ines i n the claimed area o r bordering the same. Some of these s h r i n e s

contain archaeological mater ia ls da t ing back t o about 1200 A.D. Some of

these shrines are s t i l l used qui te f requent ly by the Acomas, and most of

them a r e contained within the Acoma Province. Rowever, some of t h e

sh r ines such as the S a l t Leke i n Zuni country ;re located ou t s ide t h e

Acoma Province. Two of the most important shr ines a r e the Correo Snake

P i t and Mount Taylor. The Correo Snake P i t has been used by t h e Acomas

from 1200 up t o the present day and has been shared wi th the Lagunas

s ince 1700. With reference t o Mount Taylor, the Acamas say t h e "gods I

of Acoma came from t h i s most sacred place.11 (Tr. J u l y 14, 1953, p . 31) .. ;

Some of the more important shr ines s t i l l being used from time t o

t i m e are: Notch i n Oso Ridge (Point 3) , Tinaja (Point 4), E l Morro

(Point 51, Mesa Agula (Point 6 ) , Cerro Cabra (Point 7), Cerro Mujer

(Point 8), Los Veteados (Point 9 ) , Cerro Techado (Point l o ) , Lorna Casado

Venado (Point 1 1 A ) , Arroya Soguetoso (Point 12A), Alamo (Point 12B),

P e r t o c i t o a t Tres Hermanos ( P ~ i n t 131, Grand Cueva or Bid Cave ( F e i n t 211,

Cerro Chivato (Point 22), Cer r i to Z o r i l l o (Point 25), Cerro Colorado

(Point 27) , Mesa Blanca (Point 30), Ojo d e l Gallo (Point A - I ) , Broom

Mountain o r Cerro Escoba (Point G ) , La Mosca Peak, Cerro Carnero (Point

B ) , small caves i n Malpais o r lava flow country near I c e Caves (Po in t

S-51, Spr ings a t Cebolleta Canyon (Point S-lo) , Dripping Spring (Po in t

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn, 154 17 5

S - l l ) , and Petoche Mountains (Point S-12). The point numbers above r e f e r

t o the locat ion of these shr ines on Acoma Exhibi t 1 A .

14. The e a r l y Spanish observed and were impressed by the i r r i g a t i o n

of the Acomas which they had prac t iced s ince p r e h i s t o r i c times along the

San Jose River, Such i r r i g a t e d farms ex i s t ed along the San Jose River

from Seama t o Ojo d e l Gallo around San Rafael and t h i s p r a c t i c e of

i r r i g a t i o n has continued i n t o modern times. Dry farming was c a r r i e d on

i n o ther p a r t s of the claimed area.

I n 1894 an ear then dam was b u i l t a t Blue water on the upper San

Jose River by the Bluewater Land and I r r i g a t i o n Company. However, t h i s

dam was flooded and washed out i n 1905. Another dam was b u i l t by the

Bluewater Development Company a t the same s i t e i n 1908 b u t heavy r a i n s

i n the Zuni Mountains i n SeptemSer 1909 caused a very high f lood i n

Bluewater Creek and washed out the second dam. I n 1923 i t was

proposed t h a t t h i s dam be r e b u i l t and he3ghtened so, as..to.,impound

more water. The government was immediately warned of the p o s s i b l e dam-

age t o t h e Acoma and Laguna use of water a$ a r e s u l t of t h i s proposed

ac t ion . However, t h e pueblos were advised through government o f f i c i a l s ,

t h a t t h e r e would be no damage and the cons t ruct ion of an enlarged dam

a t Bluewater was authorized. The government did bring a s u i t a g a i n s t

the Bluewater Land and I r r i g a t i o n Company t o cancel the r i g h t of

r e s e r v o i r s i t e s but l a t e r dismissed the s u i t . The present dam, a con-

c r e t e a rch dam, was b u i l t i n 1927 by the Bluewater-Toltec I r r i g a t i o n

D i s t r i c t . The dam was constructed f o r the s torage of i r r i g a t i o n water

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 154

f o r the f a m s of l o c a l s e t t l e r s Ln the v a l l e y below t h e dam. (Def. Exs.

91, 96) These d m cons t ruc t ions were alwsys financed by p r i v a t e c a p i t a l

and were never government p r o j e c t s .

Acoma wi tnesses t e s t i f i e d t h a t t he re was plenty of water f o r irri-

ga t ion of the Acoma Lands before the cons t ruc t ion of t h e dam b u t i n s u f -

f i c i e n t a f t e n - a r d s . P e t i t i o n e r i n Docket 266 thus c la ims t h a t it has

been damaged by the l o s s of the nse of some of i t s land by reason of

t he a c t s of defendafit i n permi t t ing the cons t ruc t ion of t h i s dam i n 1927.

Before 1927 and t h e advent of t h e Bluewater Dam, t h e Acomzs irri-

gated over 1,000 ac re s . I n 1938, 997 ac re s were under i r r i g a t i o n , wh i l e

274 a c r e s w e r e given over t o dry farming. There were 178 f a m i l i e s and

a t o t a l of 170 f a m s . I n 1956, t he re were only some 110 a c r e s be ing

i r r i g a t e d .

A f t e r cons ider ing the testimony of t h e wi tnesses and t h e docume~ta ry

evidence presented on t h i s i s sue , t he Comnission f a i l s t o f i n d s u b s t a n t i a l

evidence of any caiclsal connection between t h e bu i ld ing of t h e S luewater

Dam i n 1927 and p e t i t i o n e r P s l o s s of the use of i r r i g a t e d lands subsequent

t o 1927 ,

15. According t o e a r l y Spanish records of t h e Southwest, long

before t h e Second Pueblo Revolt i n J u ~ e 1696, t he almost i n a c c e s s i b l e

mesa top known a s t he Fen01 of Acoma had served a s a p l a c e of asylum f o r

t he r e b e l l i o u s from var ious pueblos. Conditions of u n r e s t du r ing e a r l y

Spanish c o l o n i a l r u l e i n New Mexico had brought about t h e mingl ing of

v a r i o u s Pueblo &eoples , many of whom took re fuge 02 t h e Yenol of Acoma.

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154 17 7

This long e s t a b l i s h e d p a t t e r n of tak ing asylum a t Acorna w a s i n t e n s i f i e d

during t h e Second Pueblo Revol t ,

The e a r l i e s t known reference t o Acoma i s apparent ly i n 1539 A.D.

A t t h a t time Fray Marcos de Niza, on t he b a s i s of in format ion obta lned

from t h e Zuni Ind ians , declared t h a t t h e r e was another l a r g e kingdom and

province c a l l e d Acus and h i s t o r i a n s a r e i n gene ra l egreement t h a t Acus

r e f e r s t o Acoma. Members of Coronado's amy v i s i t e d Ac~ma i n 1540 A. D.,

b u t descr ibed t h e kingdom of Acus a s "a s i n g l e small city" r a t h e r t han

a "very l a r g e kingdom and province" a s descr ibed by Marcos d.e Niza.

Acoma was v i s i t e d by an expedi t ion under Frsy Augustin Rodriguez i~ 1581.

It i s desc r ibed a s heing a pueblo "on a s t r o l g pos i t ion" . Xn 1583 Arrtcrnio

de Espejo l e d an expedi t ion t o Acoma. H e found the I n d i a n s l i v i n g i n

t h e i r a n c i e n t v i l l a g e on the Penol b u t a l s o along the San J o s e R ive r

f a r t h e r n o r t h where they had small i r r i g a t e d farms. Don Juan Onate l e d

a Spanish exped i t i on t o Acoma i n 1598 bu t h i s c h r o n i c l e r s make no mention

of Acoma s e t t l e m e n t s a s ide from t h e i r v i l l a g e a top the rocky mesa r e f e r r e d

t o a s t h e Penol .

During t h e Pueblo Revolt , 1680-1699, Acorna joined the r e b e l l i o u s In -

d i ans of New Mexico by allowing them t o use t h e Penol a s a re fuge . The

Acornas d i d n o t p lay a major r o l e i n t he Pueblo u p r i s i n g t h a t broke o u t i n

1680 b u t i n t h e subsequent r e v o l t of June 1686, t h e Acomas were q u i t e ac-

t i v e and encouraged and i n c i t e d o t h e r pueblos t o i n s u r r e c t i o n . However,

they submi t t ed t o t h e Spanish Crown on Ju ly 6 , 1699, and cont inued t o b e

v a s s a l s of Spa in u n t i l the Independence of Mexico from Spain i n 1821.

18 Ind . C 1 . Comm. 154 178

16. New MexLco was colonized by Spain i n 1598-1605. New Mexico,

inc luding the area i n s u i t , was one of the i n t e r n a l provinces of Mexico

o f t e n r e fe r r ed t o a s New Spain. Under Spanish law the Ind ians became

wards of the Spanish Crown. The King of Spain claimzd t i t l e t o a l l

lands wi th in the American dominions bu t recognized the r i g h t of t h e

Ind ians t o the use of such t r a c t s a s were l e f t i n t h e i r possess ion .

The possession and use of t h e lands by t h e Ind ians was a t t h e w i l l

of t he Spanish govl ~ r n m e n t . Under Spanish laws, pas tu re lands , nountBins, and wa te r s were

common and open t o a l l , inc luding t h e Indians . Thus, Law 5, T i t l e 17 ,

Book 4 of the Recopilacion de l a s I n d i a s provides a s fo l lows (Def. E x .

No. 62, p . 56):

* we command t h a t a l l p a s t u r e s , moontains, and waters, FP t h e provinces of t he I n d i e s , be common to a11 t h e i n h a b i t a n t s t h e r e o f , p resent and t o come, and t h a t they may f r e e l y enjoy t h e use of them, and cons t ruc t t h e i r hu t s near t h e i r p e p s , d r i v e the re in t h e i r c a t t l e , e i t h e r i n herds o r s e p a r a t e l y , a t t h e i r opt ion, a l l ordinances t o t he cont ra ry notwi ths t s ~ d i a g ; * However, Spain e a r l y recognized the r i g h t s of Ind ians t o l a n d s used

and occupied by them and decrees were i s sued and Laws adopted t o p r o t e c t

t h e I n d i a n t r i b e s i n these righrs. These laws recognized t h e r igh t of

t h e Ind ians t o the use and occupancy of such lands a s were "aeces sa ry

for them t o sow, c u l t i v a t e o r r a i s e stock.1t These decrees were i n c o r -

po ra t ed i n t o the Spanish Legal Code of 1680. It was t h e land p o l i c y of

Spain , enunciated by the decree of November 20, 1578, t h a t t h e I n d i a n s

were t o be confirmed i n what they possessed and a l l o t h e r land was t o

belong t o t he Crown. Grants were t o be made i n such a manner t h a t t h e r e

18 Ind . C 1 . Comm. 154 179

would be 90 c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e lands which t h e Ind ians used and occupied.

Thus, Spair- made s p e c i f i c g ran t s of land t o b o t h I n d i a n s and con-Indiens

a l i k e . ALL iazid not granted remaized t h e proper ty or' the Crown.

1 7 . The land pol icy p e r t a i n i n g t o t he c l a i z e d srea ?id n o t change

when Mexico dec lared i t s iadependence from Spain acd s e t up i t s o m

governnent. The Plan of Hguala adopted by t h e r evo lu t iona ry govarnment

of Mexica Februsry 24, 1821, dec l a red t h e t a i l i ~ h a b i t a n t s of New Spain

(Mexico) wi thout d i s t i n e t i o n , whether Euro?eans, Afr icans , o r Pndisns ,

were c i t i z e n s of t h a t monarchy, w i t h the r i g k t t o he empl.oye:! i n any

Pos t according t o t h e i r merit: and v i r t u e s and tha t t he person enci prope r ty

of every c i t i z e n should be respec ted by the gcvernment. These ssale

~ r i X i ? l e s were recognized i n t h e Treaty of Cardova between Spaia and

Mexico da t ed Acgust 24, 1821, i n ths Hexican Declara t ion of Hndepend-

ence of September 28, 182%. Mexico became a r epub l i c i n 1823 acd New

Mexico was given the s t a t u s of a t e r r i t o r y from 1824-1837. During the

Mexican p e r i o d of 1821-1948, no m a t e r i a l change was made respecting ti.!?:

r i g h t s which t h e Indians possessed under t h e Spanish Go-fermtnert.

The Government of Mexico assumed owcership of a l l v scan t lands

formerly h e l d by the Spanish Crown. Sowever, g ran t s of land msdr by

Spa in were recogcized by Mexico and r?o charlge i n private prope r ty r i g h t s

occurred a s a r e s u l t of the change ic sovere ignty f ron Spain t o FexFco.

Except where s p e c i f i c a l l y changed by the new government, t h e Mexican

m t h o r i t i e s were governed by the laws and decrees which bad o r i g i n a l l y

been promulgated by t h e Spanish Goverment .

18 Ind . C 1 . Corn. 154 180

Although strenuous e f f o r t s were made t o p r o t e c t t h e Ind ians i n t he

use and possession of lands occupied and used by them, i n many in s t ances

t h e laws were n o t propezly administered o r were disregarded. However,

n e i t h e r t h e Mexican o r Spanish governments a t any time recognized t h a t

t h e Ind ians had "aboriginal t i t l e " t o lands i n t h e l e g a l sense i n which

t h a t term i s used i n our cour t s today.

Furthermore, ne i the r government adopted the p o l i c y of purchasing

t h e r i g h t s which it recognized the Ind ians had i n t h e land which they

occupied. I f lands were taken from them t o promote t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e

government, t h e Indians were usua l ly given o t h e r lands a s compensation.

The United S t a t e s acquired sovereignty over N e w Mexico, i nc lud ing

t h e claimed a rea , by v i r t u e of the Trea ty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Febru- "-

a r y 2 , 1848. Under t he provis ions of A r t i c l e VIII and I X of t h a t t r e a t y

t h e United S t a t e s agreed t o respec t and p r o t e c t a l l p roper ty r i g h t s

w i t h i n t h e ceded area. Thus, i t became t h e duty of Congress t o recognize

and e s t a b l i s h every t i t l e and r i g h t t o proper ty which Mexico recognized

a s ,good and v a l i d before the cession. Th i s change i n sovereignty worked

no change w i t h respec t t o p r iva t e r i g h t s and t i t l e s .

18. En o rde r t o carry out i t s ob l iga t ions under the p rov i s ions of

t h e T r e a t y of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and t o a s c e r t a i n what lands i n New

Mexico w e r e p r i v a t e property, the t i t l e t o which should be r e spec t ed

and p r o t e c t e d , the Congress of the United S t a t e s passed the a c t o f

J u l y 22, 1854, e n t i t l e d "An Act t o E s t a b l i s h the O f f i c e of Surveyor . -.

Geqera l of New Mexico, *A and f o r o the r purposes." By t h i s Act Congress

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154 18 1

provided f o r the appointment of a Surveyor General f o r New Mexico Ter r i -

t o r y ~ whose duty i t was to ascer ta in the o r i g i n , nacure, character and

extent of a l l claims to lands within such T e r r i t o r y which might have

exis ted under the laws, usages and customs of Spain and Mexico. A f u l l

repor t of h i s f indings was to be submitted t o the Congress of a l l claims

t h a t or ig inated before the cession of the Ter r i to ry t o the United S t a t e s

with h i s decision as t o the v a l i d i t y o r i n v a l i d i t y of the same under the

laws, usages and customs of the country before the cess ion; and a l s o a

r epor t i n regard t o a l l ex i s t ing pueblos i n the T e r r i t o r y , showing t h e

extent and l o c a l i t y of each, the number of inhab i t an t s i n each pueblo,

and the nature of t h e i r t i t l e s t o the land. Under the provisions of

Section 8 of t h e Act the report was t o be submitted t o Congress f o r such

ac t ion a s might be deemed jus t and proper wi th a view t o confirming a l l

b_ona f i d e g ran t s and thus give f u l l e f f e c t t o the Treaty of Guadalupe

Ridelgo.

The appointment of the Surveyor General of New Mexico T e r r i t o r y ,

the re fo re was f o r the speci f ic pprpose of a sce r ta in ing what claims o r

t i t les t o land, as recognized by Mexico, were i n exis tence i n the T e r r i -

tory a t t h e time of the 1848 cession from Mexico. The Surveyor General

thus had t h e functions of a Board of Inquiry , t o procure f o r Congress

311 information t h a t was needed f o r Congressional ac t ion confirming a l l

p r i v a t e land claims which were va l id under t h e laws, usages and customs

of Spain and Mexico.

19. 'Iln accordance with provisions of t h e Act of J u l y 22, 1854,

the Pueblo of Acoma presented i t s land claim under a Spanish g ran t t o

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154 182

the Surveyor General. After due inves t igat ion the Surveyor General,

i n h i s r epor t of September 30, 1856, recommended ccnfirmation chereof.

Congress approved the Surveyor General's recommendation on December 22,

1858 and a patent issued t o the Pueblo of Acoma by the United S t a t e s on

November 19, 1877, f o r the Pueblo of Acoma Grant cocta in ing 95,791.66

acres.

Under the Act of March 3 , 1891 (26 S t a t . 8541, e s t a b l i s h i n g the

Court of P r i v a t e Land Claims, Congress provided a j u d i c i a l t r i b u n a l f o r

the adjustment and confirmation of claims under g ran t s from the govern-

.- mentS of Spain and Mexico of land i n New Mexico and c e r t a i n o the r t e r r i -

t o r i e s included within the Mexican Fissions of 1848 and 1853. P r i o r t o

t h i s Act, Congress reserved t o i t s e l f the determination of such claims.

20. I n accordance with the provisions of t h s Court of P r i v a t e Land

Claims Act, a p e t i t i o n was f i l e d seeking confirmation of a p r i v a t e grant

of a t r a c t of land known as the San Mateo Springs Grant " fo r one league

of land on the t r a c t conmfonly known and ca l l ed the 'San Mateo Spr izgs i n

the v i c i n i t y of Navajo'." A decree was entered i n favor of the claimant

Santiago Duran y Chaves and t i t l e confirmed t o him and h i s h e i r s i n the

amount of 4,340.276 acres (Def. Exs. 12 and 102). A p a t e n t was i ssued

by the United S t a t e s on January 18, 1909. The evidence i n d i c a t e s t h a t a

por t ion of the area represented by t h i s confirmed g ran t l i e s wi th in the

' e x t e r i o r boundafies of the area herein claimed by the Pueblo of Acoma under

o r i g i n a l Ind ian t i t le .

21. Proceedings were f i l e d i n the Court of P r i v a t e Land Claims seek-

ing confirmation of the Cubero Grant. This grant was made by the Mexican

18 Ind. C 1 . Comrn. 154 183

government i n 1833 t o Juan Chaves and sixty-one other s e t t l e r s " f o r the

purpose of colonizing the place of Cubero." The Cubero Grant was confirmed

by the Court of P r i v a t e Land Claims August 29, 1892, and an o f f i c i a l survey

of the land so confirmed was approved by t h a t court on June 24, 1898.

A pa tent was issued on August.27, 1900 f o r 16,490.94 a c r e s confirming

t i t l e i n "Juan Chaves 2nd o the rs , and t o t h e i r he i r s and ass igns ." When a survey of the Cubero t r a c t was made i n June and J u l y 1896, a

c o n f l i c t t o the ex ten t of 283.24 acres was found t o e x i s t w i t h t h e Pueblo

of Acoma Grant. However, i n i t s decree of confirmation t h e Court of P r i v a t e

Land Claims exempted from i t s operat ion lands which had been previously

granted, so ld o r disposed of by the United S ta tes . Since t h e United S t a t e s

had issued a pa ten t f o r the 'pueblo of Acoma Grant i n 1877, the t i t l e of

the Pueblo of Acoma t o t h i s 283,24 acres was not a f fec ted by the decree t

of the Court of P r i v a t e Land Claims.

22. A s a l ready pointed ou t , the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico were

brought under t h e sovereignty of the United Staces a f t e r t h e s igning of

the t r e a t y of Guadalupe Hidalgo February 2 , 1848. However, t h e United

S t a t e s d id no t immediately def ine the s t a t u s of the Pueblos. Right from

the very beginning of American sdvereignty, encroachments of non-Indians

upon the abor ig ina l lands of the Pueblo of Acoma took place . These

encroachments mul t ip l ied t o a g rea t extent a f t e r 1850, James S. Calhoun,

appointed Ind ian Agent f o r the Pueblos Apr i l 7 , 1849, continuously urged

the Commissioner of Indian Affa i rs to stop t h i s non-Indian t r e s p a s s and

bring t h e pueblos under the wardship of the Non-Intercourse Act of 1834

because of the chaot ic conditions surrounding these Indians . On February 27,

18 Ind . C 1 . Comm. 154 184

1851, Congress d id extend the Non-Intercourse Act t o New Mexico I n d i a n

t r i b e s but d i d not spec i fy t h a t t he pueblos were t r i b e s i n t he sense of

t he law. However, the encroachments were not stopped and a f t e r the

depa r tu re of Calhoun i n May 1952, the r eques t s of ~ a l h o u n ' s succes so r ,

E . A. Graves, t h a t such encroachments be stopped and pueblo boundaries

determined were no t followed a t t h a t time.

From 1851 t o u n t i l about 1870 the p o s i t i o n of t h e United S t a t e s ,

t h e government agents , and Congress was t h a t t he Pueblo I n d i a n s were

wards of t h e Government and were under t h e Non-Interr,ourse Act. Yet t h e

Pueblo I n d i a n s were l e f t t o the devices of the 1847 New Mexico t e r r i t o r i a l

law which made the Pueblos e n t i t i e s , sub jec t t o sue and be sued, even

though t h e Ind ian agents had warned t h a t t h i s law c o n f l i c t e d w i t h t h e

concept o f wardship. I n 1867, a New Mexico Court dec i s ion determined

t h a t t h e pueblo Indians were no t under t h e Non-Interconrse Act. Hcwever,

i n s p i t e of t h i s dec is ion and the f u r t h e r reques ts of Ind ian a g e n t s , t h e

government f a i l e d t o def ine the s t a t u s of t he Pueblo Ind ians 9s e i t h e r

wards o r c i t i z e n s , o r t o apply a c o n s i s t e n t po l icy towards them. Taxa-

t i o n o f t h e Pueblos was ignored by the T e r r i t o r y u n t i l 1905 when Congress

exempted them from taxa t ion .

Because of the problems of encroachment and c o n f l i c t i n g land c l a ims

t h e Uni ted S t a t e s appointed a Surveyor-General by the Act of J u l y 22 , 1854

(10 S t a t . 308). The Surveyor-General was in s t ruc t ed t o review t h e laws

of Spa in and Mexico, t o def ine land g r a n t s , and t o hold hear ings upon

them. The Surveyor-General was then t o submit t h e r e s u l t s of t h i s i n q u i r y

t o Congress so t h a t Congress could pass on the v a l i d i t y o r i n v a l i d i t y of

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154 185

such claims. Later , under t h e Act of March 3 , 1891 ( 2 6 S t a t . 854) Con-

g re s s e s t ab l i shed the Court of P r i v a t e Land Claims and thus provided a

j u d i c i a l t r i buna l f o r t h e adjustment and conf i rmet ion of c laims under

g ran t s from the governments of Spain and Mexico of land i n New Mexico

and c e r t a i n o ther t e r r i t o r i e s inc luded wi th t h e Mexican ces s ions of 1848

and 1853. By t h i s t ime t h e United S t a t e s had reversed i t s e a r l i e r p o s i -

t i o n and now considered the pueblo Indians a s c i t i z e n s under t h e j u r i s d i c -

t i o n of t e r r i t o r i a l a u t h o r i t i e s . While t h e Court was i n s e s s i o n , 1891-

1900, Indian agents and o the r s importuned t h e J u s t i c e Department t o a c t

t o p r o t e c t t h e r i g h t s of Pueblo Ind ians but nothing w a s done. F i n a l l y ,

by 1924, ma t t e r s had become so bad t h a t a cond i t i on of i n c r e a s i n g u n r e s t

e x i s t e d among t h e white s e t t l e r s wh i l e a cond i t i on of more o r less a c u t e

d i s t r e s s preva i led among t h e Indians due t o s o many whi te people u su rp ing

t h e i r lands. I n an e f f o r t , t h e r e f o r e , t o provide f o r a f i n a l ad jud ica -

t i o n and se t t lement of many c o n f l i c t i n g t i t les a f f e c t i n g lands claimed

by t h e Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, and t o secure f o r t h e Ind ians a l l

l ands t o which they were equ i t ab ly e n t i t l e d , Congress c r e a t e d t h e Pueblo

Lands Board under l e g i s l a t i o n enac ted June 7 , 1924. This Board c o n s i s t e d

of t h r e e members: one r ep re sen t ing t h e Secre ta ry of I n t e r i o r , ano the r

t h e Attorney General, and t h e t h i r d appointed by the P re s iden t of t h e

United S t a t e s . The purpose of t h e Board w a s t o s e t t l e t h e complicated

ques t ion of t i t l e and t o secure f o r t h e Indians a l l t h e lands t o which

they w e r e equ i t ab ly e n t i t l e d .

Under t h e provisions of t h e Pueblo Lands Act the Board was d i r e c t e d

t o i n v e s t i g a t e , determine, and r e p o r t upon a l l lands w i t h i n t h e e x t e r i o r

18 Ind. C 1 . Corn. 154

boundaries of any lznd granted or coqfirmed t o t he Pueblo Ind ians of

New Mexico cnder a u t h o r i t y of the United S t a t e s or a y p r i o r sovereigx-

t i e s , or acquired by s a i d Indiacs a s a community by purchase, o r o ther -

wise , t i t l e t o which the "Board s h a l l f i n d not t o have been ex t i sgu i shed

i n accordance wi th t h e provis ions of t h e Act ." It was t h e essence of t h e Pueblo Lands Act t o e s t a b l i s h , s u b j e c t t o

t h e consent of t h e Pueblos, a r e t r o s p e c t i v e s t a t u t e of l i m i t a t i o n s which

would ope ra t e t o d i v e s t t he Pueblos of t h e i r t i t les , as contemplated by

t h e Act, t o some of t h e i r lamk and t o v e s t t h e t i t l e i n wh i t e s who

might q u a l i f y by proving length of occupation and o the r q.uaLFfications

p re sc r ibed by t h e ACE. The extinguishment of t h e t i t l e s of t h e Sueblos

depended exc lus ive ly upon t h e t e r n s of t he A c t i t s e l f . The Pueblos were

t o be pa id compensation by the United S t a t s s where the Pueblo t L t l e was

d ives t ed and where t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t he United S t a t e s f a r t he loss

of such l ands was e s t ab l i shed . This compensation was then t o be expended

f o r new l ands t o r ep l ace those l o s t , thus enabl ing t h e Fueblos t o r e -

e s t a b l i s h t h e i r economic independence.

The Pueblo Lands Board was charged with t h e admin i s t r a t i on of the

fundamental p a r t s of t h e Act; i ts f ind ings wi th r e spec t t o t i t l e , i f

adverse t o t h e Pueblos, were t o become i r r evocab le i n t h e event the

Pueblos e l e c t e d not t o i n s t i t u t e independent s u i t s , zs they were s p e c i f -

i c a l l y pe rmi t t ed t o do under the provis ions of t h e Act, and which would

be e q u i v a l e n t t o a r e j e c t i o n by them of t he Board's f i nd tngs . The 1924

Act was t h c s an attempt t o compromise l e g a l r i g h t s ves ted i n t h e Indians

w i t h r i g h t s which had become ves ted i n non-Indians through adverse pos-

s e s s i o n and l apse of time.

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154

23. The Pueblo Lands Board inves t iga t ed t h e c o n f l i c t i n g claims

a f f ec t ing a l l lands owned o r claimed by the Pueblo of Acoma and on

October 5 , 1929 f i l e d i t s r epo r t i n r e spec t t h e r e t o a s r equ i r ed by t h e

Pueblo Lands Act. The Board found t h a t t he t r a c t of land known a s t h e

Pueblo of Acoma Grant, containing 94,169 a c r e s , and r e s e r v a t i o n lands

s e t a s ide f o r t h a t Pueblo by Act of Congress May 23, 1928 (45 S t a t . 177)

were t h e only lands acquired or then he ld by t h a t Pueblo. The a r e a in-

cluded w i t h i n t h e r e se rva t ion t r a c t t o t a l e d 55,800.98 a c r e s .

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e lands r e f e r r e d t o above, another t r a c t of land

containing 4,384.04 ac re s , ly ing immediately south of t h e sou theas t e rn

por t ion of t h e Pueblo of Acoma Grant, has been severed from t h e Laguna

Executive Order Reservat ion of March 21, 1917 and made a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e

exc lus ive use of t h e Acoma Indiacs . This t r a c t was inc luded i n land3 s e t

apa r t i n 1917 "as a r e se rva t ion f o r t he use and occupancy of t h e Ind ians

of Laguna Pueblo, and such o ther Pueblo Indians as t h e Sec re t a ry of t h e

I n t e r i o r may s e t t l e thereon."

The Acomas s e t t l e d upon the r e s e r v a t i o n wi th t h e Lagunas bu t f o r

many y e a r s controversy and disagreement e x i s t e d between t h e two Pueblos

as t o proper d i v i s i o n of t h e r e se rva t ion lands. Af te r t h e Acoma re se rva -

t i o n was e s t a b l i s h e d by Congress i n 1928 (45 S t a t . 717), t h i s s t r i p of

4,384.04 a c r e s of land cons t i t u t ed a wedge between t h e Pueblo of Acoma

Grant and p a r t of t h e Acoma reserva t ion . To c o r r e c t t h i s s i t u a t i o n a n

agreement was executed Apri l 12, 1933 by Pueblo de Acoma and t h e Pueblo

of Laguna whereby the Pueblo of Laguna r e l inqu i shed a l l r i g h t s t o use

t h i s t r a c t i n f avo r of t he Pueblo of Acoma. This agreement w a s approved

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154

by t h e Secre ta ry of t he I n t e r i o r June 12, 1933.

24- Under he Act of A q u s t 13, LBL3 (63 S t a t . 604) defendant ho lds

t i t l e i n t r u s t f o r t he Pueblc of Ac0rr.a t o a t r a c t of lznd h o c m a s t h e

Acoma Purchase Area co r~ tz in ing approximately 80,720.55 ac re s . The purpose

of t h i s l e g i s l a t i o n was t o enact i n t o l a w a s e t ~ l e m e n t of land d i s p u ~ e s

of long s tanding between Indians and non-Indian u s e r s of c e r t s i n p u b l i c

domain and o the r lands i n New Mexico. P r i o r t o t he enac tnent of t h i s

b i l l , t h e Indians and non-Indians had agreed upon t h e lands t o be used by

each group. Thus, in h i s r e p o r t t o t h e Chairman of the Senate Committee

on I n t e r l o r and Lnsul,%r A f f a i r s on June LO, 1949, t h e A s s i s t a n t Sec re t a ry

of the I n t e r i o r s t a t e d t h a t t he proposed l e g i s l a t i o n "is a c o % s t r u c t i v e

e f f o r t t o a d j u s t a lang s tanding u n s e t t l e d cond i t i cn i n

land i n New Mexico covered by t h e b t l l . If enacted, it

t o e i g h t Ind ian t r i b e s i n New Fiexico on lands t h a t they

been us ing f o r a number of yea r s and f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n

the nse of t h e

would give s e c u r i t y

a r e now and hime

2nd improvement

of which they have spent t h e i r own money and performed considerable,

labor ." (Def. Ex. 67, pp. 2-3)

25. The populat ion of t he Acona t r i b e a t t he t i n e Ainerican sover-

e i g n t y a t t a c h e d t o t h e a r e a i n ques t ion i s not c e r t a i n . D r . Rsods,

de fendan t ' s e x p e r t , l ists over f o r t y popula t ion e s t i ~ a t e s of the Acomas

between 1540 and 1860, These e s t ima te s vzry widely i n mmber, sou rce and

r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . Some of them rep resen t "warriors" o r "Chr i s t i zn persons. ' '

Others r e p r e s e n t "Acocla Indians," and s t i l l o the r s "Mission lnd iansr ' . There

f o r e , i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o determine the exzc t number belonging t o t h e Acoma

t r i b e a t t h i s t i n e . However, we be l i eve t h a t a f a i r e s t ima te of t h e

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154

population of the Acoma t r i b e a t t he t i m e American sovere ignty a t t a c h e d

t o t h i s t e r r i t o r y i s 900 persons, s l i g h t l y l e s s than t h a t of Laguna.

26. The Navajo i n New Mexico were f i r s t found on t h e San Juan River

i n t he s ix t een th century. It was t h e i r custom t o move f r e q u e n t l y . I n

t he 1700's Navajo se t t lements were s c a t t e r e d west of Jemez and San Ysidro ;

on the upper San Juan t r i b u t a r i e s ; and about Chaco Mesa and t h e Chuska

Mountains. They were on t h e nor thern edge of t he Cebo l l e t a Mountains,

i n Guadalupe Valley, Casa Sa lazar , and Big Bead Mesa (Mesa Chiva to) .

The Navajo were neighbors of t he Acoma on the nor th .

The f i r s t re fe rence t o t h e Navajo i n t h e Acoma-Laguna claimed a r e a s

da t e s from t h e middle of t he 18th century when t h e Navajos pe rmi t t ed

themselves t o be s e t t l e d a t Encinal , under Fray Juan Sanz de Lezaun, and

a t Cebolleta , under Fray Mantel Vermejo. However, they soon r e b e l l e d

aga ins t t h i s s e t t l e d way of l i f e and t h e adoption of t h e C h r i s t i a n f a i t h ,

and drove out t h e f r i a t s . Most of t h e Navajo l e f t t h e miss ion and moved

westlyard but a few fami l i e s remained behind temporari ly and moved i n and

out of t h e a r e a f o r t h e next 125 years o f t e n a t t h e su f f e rance of t h e Acomas

and Lagunas, o r by d i r e c t i o n of t h e Spanish a u t h o r i t i e s i n o r d e r t o g i v e

them a s s i s t a n c e . Throughout t h e Spanish period small bands of Navajos

continued t o move i n and out of t he claimed a reas , sometimes c u l t i v a t i n g

smal l p l o t s i n t h e Cebolleta, Cubero Pedro P a d i l l a Canada, on t h e Rio

Puerco, and i n t h e Canon of Juan Tafoya on the Agua Salada, n o r t h e a s t o f

Cebol le ta . However, t he Pueblos continued t o use these a r e a s and never

v o l u n t a r i l y abandoned them.

18 Ind. C l . Corn. 154

After 1768, t he Navajo began r a i d i n g the Pueblo and Spanish ranches

f o r sheep and ho r ses . The Spanish had s e t t i e d on s e v e r a l g r a n t s between

t h e Rio Puerco and M t . Taylor where the Pueblos herded t h e i r sheep.

Af te r t he Spanish moved i n , t he Pueblos continued t h e use of t h e a r e a s

ad jacent t o t hese se t t l emen t s , During a period of r e l a t i v e peace from

1885 t o 1800 some Nzvajo were persuaded by t h e Spanish a z t h o r i t i e s t o

become incorpora ted wi th t h e Acoma and Laguna m i l i t i a i n a campaign

a g a i n s t t h e Apaches. A t t h e same time Spanish a u t h o r i t i e s maintained a

s t r o n g command a t Laguna t o keep the Xavzjo i n l i n e . However, dur ing

t h i s e n t i r e per iod t h e correspondence shows r a i d s by t h e Navajo on

Canada de Las Almos, Jemez, Cebol le ta , and o ther p l aces w i th p u r s u i t s

by t h e Government m i l i t a r y . The r a i d s on Laguna were u s u a l l y from t h e

<

. . n o r t h , and on Acoma froill Lobo Canyon on t h e w e s t s i d e of Mocnt Taylor .

Tne Apaches r a ided from t h e South, During the same t i m e t h e Navajos

were r a i d i n g t h e reg ion , t roops were s e n t t o p r o t e c t t h e Acomas an.d

Lagunas. The r e p o r t s of m i l i t a r y expedi t ions do not l o c a t e Navajo i n t h e

Acoma-Laguna a rea , except f o r an occashonzlment ion of a f e w a t Cebol le ta .

Mention i s made i n r e p o r t s of s e v e r a l Navajo se t t l emen t s o c t s i d e t h e

c Laimed areas, and Xavajo moving i n and out of t h e s e a r e a s .

These m i l i t a r y expedi t ions usua l ly s t a r t e d from the Rio Grande and

t r a v e l e d n o r t h and west , o r south and west t o t he Navajo count ry t o

Carryon de Chel ly , and t h e Chuska, Oso and Tunicha Mountains. me m i l i -

t a r y f o r c e s would pursue t h e Navajo t o Canyon de Chel ly , t h e Chuska

Mountains or Ojo d e l Oso. These a reas a r e nor th of t h e t e r r i t o r y claimed

by t h e Acomas.

18 Ind. C1. Comm. 154

27. I n 1804 some Navajos requested t h e a u t h o r i t i e s t o g r a n t them

r i g h t s i n the Cebolleta a r ea but t h i s was denied them.

I n 1804 the Governor permitted some Navajo t o s e t t l e temporar i ly

i n Canada Pad i l l a , on the Puerco and i n t h e Cubero r e g i o n but by 1816

they had removed t o Canyon de Chelly. It was about t h i s t ime t h a t t h e

Navajo were ra id ing north of t h e Salado. The Navajo no r th and northwest

of Mount Taylor and San Mate0 were r a i d i n g San Miguel west of San Mateo.

One of t h e rou te s taken by these Navajo came from t h e i r home n o r t h and

northwest of M t . Taylor, west toward Chaco Mesa and e a s t v i a Marquez.

Another r o u t e came from Big Bead Mesa Gigante, Canoncito and Rio Puerco.

A t h i r d r o u t e came from Owls Home, nor th of Mount Taylor . Some r a i d s

o r i g i n a t e d from Chaco Mesa and Crown Poin t , and s t i l l o t h e r s from San

Mateo o r E l Morro Spring.

Some of t h e places raided by t h e Navajo were Puer to de 10s Ohos

de ~ o r r i b i o ' , R i t o Quemodo, Mesa Azul, Cerro Cabezon, Mesa P r i e t a ,

Laguna de 10s ~ a b l l l o s and se t t lements along t h e San Jose, Ria Puerco

and Rio Grande.

During both t h e Spanish and Mexican per iods , t h e Navajo r a i d s were

caused i n p a r t by Navajos being taken by t h e whi tes and used as s l a v e s .

During t h e Mexican period, t he Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna were f r e -

quent ly r e f e r r e d t o as t he Alcaldia de Lagunpa under t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n of

Jemez . During t h e e n t i r e Mexican period h o s t i l i t i e s , a t t a c k s and r a i d s by

Navajo were c a r r i e d on a t Laguna, ~c&ma, Santa h a , Abiquiu, Jemez,

Cebo l l e t a , R i t a de Laguna, Zia, Socorro on t h e Rio Grande South of

18 Ind. CL. Comm. 154

Albuquerque, along t h e San Jose River and the Rio Grande, and elsewhere.

It was custGmary f o r t he N ~ v a j o r z i d e r s t o d r ive the stole:? he rds and

f locks out of t he claimed a reas t o t h e i r own coucKry.

As t h e r a i d s increased the Fexican Government: orgsnized m i l i t a r y

campaigns aga ins t t h e Navajo. Jemez became the base of ope ra t ion , w i th

rendezvous a t CebslPeta. I n t h e a i d of t h e r egu la r t roops t h e govern-

ment e n l i s t e d t h e a i d of men from t h e Pueblos, a s w e l l a s Spanish s e t t l e r s ,

t o pursue t h e Kavajo r a i d e r s . Occasional ly, Sandoval, a Eavajo a s s i s t e d

t h e Government fo rces i n pu r su i t of t h e Navajo t o t h e i r count ry northwest

of Ht. Taylor .

In 1839 t h e Governor of New Mexico r epor t ed that t h e Savajo had

. - 7 e s t a b l i s h e d t h e i r permanent w in te r q u a r t e r s a t Chuska and O j o de C z r r i z o

Z

i.

-- B S i e r r a de Psnicha and Canyon de Chel ly. Reports a l s o show that some

Navajo had s e t t l e d t h e i r r a ~ c h e r i o s i n t h e S i l v e r and D a t i l Mounteins.

28. Dr. Jenkins, i n he r r e sez rch of m i l i t a r y and exp lo ra to ry ex-

p e d i t i o n s of 1846-1850, found no mention of Navajo s e t t l e d i n t h e a r e a

from Rio Puerco on t h e e a s t t o Ojo d e l Gel lo on t h e west, ar?d from Nt.

Taylor on the nor th t o a l i n e 30 m i l e s south of t h e Acoma and Laguna

Pueblos-- the a r eas claimed by t h e Acomas and Eagunas. Sandoval, a

Navajo who f r equen t ly appeared in a i d of government t roops , l i v e d w e s t

of M t . Taylor . D r . Jenkins gave it as h e r opinion, from a s tudy of t h e

documents, t h a t Sandoval was moving i n 23d out of t h e claimed area bu t

t h a t you have t o know t h e d a t e and year t o know where fie i s . Other t han

Sandoval, D r . Jenkins repor ted no Navajos i n t h e Acoma-Lagu~a claimed

areas excep t two Indians from C a r v a j a l ' s band who came from c l o s e t o

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154

Cubero i n 1850 and a c h i e f t a i n by the name of Chino who t empora r i l y was

c lose t o Laguna i n 1855.

After the t r e a t y of peace of September 9 , 1849, J . N. Simpson of

t he Topographical Corps of Army Engineers p laces Sandoval a s l i v i n g near

Cebolleta on t h e headwaters of the S2n Jose r i v e r . I n h e r r e p o r t D r .

Jenkins p laces t h i s po in t 40 miles west of Laguna, and about t h e same

d i s t ance northwest of Acoma. I f , however, Simpson meant t h e headwaters

of R i t a de San Jose , t h i s s i t e would have been northwest of M t . Taylor .

E i the r s i t e would be outs ide of the a r ea claimed by t h e Acomas.

It appears t h a t i n 1849 or 1850, Calhoun, t h e SdpCrintendent of

Indian A f f a i r s , permit ted Sandoval t o move i n t o t h e C'ebol leta r e g i o n on

a temporary b a s i s . I n June, 1852, Sandoval was r eques t ing permission

t o s e t t l e at San Mateo, west of Cebolleta mountain. I n t h e f a l l he was

found back on t h e s lopes of M t . Taylor. I n 1854, Sandoval was be l i eved

t o be near Cebolleta .

I n a t r e a t y negot ia ted by Governor Meriwether wi th the Navajo on

July 18, 1855, t h e Navajo made no claim t o any of t h e t e r r i t o r y claimed

h e r e i n by t h e Acomas. (Acoma-Laguna J o i n t Ex. 530, p. 134) The Navajo

country i n 1860 was defined a s comprising Rio San Juan, t h e Val ley of

Tunicha and Canyon de Chelly, again excluding the Acoma claimed a rea .

( I b i d . p. 147) This was s u b s t a n t i a l l y t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of Navajo c o m t r y

i n 1846. ( I b i d , p . 114) I n 1859 Capt. Pope repor ted t h e Navajo had

p l aces of permanent abode with f i e l d s of corn and herds of ho r ses and

sheep. Alexander Baker, Agent a t Fort Defiance, i n t h e same y e a r , in -

formed t h e superintendent of Indian Af fa i r s of s i m i l a r obse rva t ions made

18 Ind, C 1 . Comm. 154

on a t r i p from San Juan t o Canon de Chelly and t h e Tunicha Val ley . There

was a small group of Navajo from t h e Crown Point a r e a and Cebo l l e t a

Mountains, and a few who had hiddea out wi th t h e Acomas dur ing Bosque

Redondo, t oge the r wi th a few Apache, who loca t ed i n t he Acoma-Laguna'

claimed a reas and who became known a s Alamo Navajos.

29. I n 1846 Lt . Abert of the Corps of Topographical Engineers

t r a v e r s e d t h e a r e a 30 mi l e s nor th s f Cubero and west t o Acoma. H e a

r e tu rned t o Albuquerque over a rou te sou tb of Acoma and Laguna Pueblos.

He encountered no Navajo during t h i s t r i p . Lt. Abert s g a i n t r a v e r s e d

t h i s area from t h e Rio Puerco a t t h e edge of "Canoncito" about ridway

between t h e Ded i l l o and Montana g r a n t s t o Moquino and Cebo l l e t a and con-

t i nued on t o t h e Laguna v i l l a g e of Paguate. On t h e r e t u r n r o u t e h e .L

-. passed through E l Rf to se t t lement and Mesi ta t o t h e Rio Fuerco. No

Navajo were s e e n on t h i s t r i p although he d i d c r o s s t h e treil of a

Navaj o r a i d i n g pa r ty .

I n 1853, Lt . Whipple of t he Corps of Topographical Engineers t r a v e l e d

from a p o i n t about fou r m i l e s south of Albuquerque, thence west zc ros s -. t h e Rio Puerco through San Jose Valley and E l Rio t o Laguna, and west

over t h e Con t inen ta l Divide. He found no Navajo u n t i l he came t o Ojo

d e l 060, excep t a few hovering about Cubero await ing an oppor tuni ty t o

r a i d .

30. I n 1846 t h e Navajo ra ided t h e Lagunas and about t h e same t i m e

they a l s o drove o f f t h e Army horses from San Jose Camp near Cubero.

These Navajo r a i d s prompted t h e United S t a t e s a u t h o r i t i e s t o send t h e

m i l i t a r y f o r c e s i n p u r s u i t . I n 1846 Col. Doniphan was d i r e c t e d t o

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154

nego t i a t e a t r e a t y . This was done and a t r e a t y was s igned a t P t . Wingate

on November 1 7 , 1846. O n t h i s occasion, sonie of t5e rriilirary t r avn led

v i a Paguate, through Morthern Sed i l l o g r a n t , up the San 2ose r i v e r , p a s t

E l Ri to t o Laguna, camping a t Cebolleta and Cubero. No Navajos were en-

countered. Sandoval a Navajo chief appears i n a i d of the i n i l i t z r y .

While t he m i l i t a r y forces were encarnped a t Cebolleca, Sandovel was

s e n t a s an emissary t o the Navajo country i n t h e Chuska NomCains. H i s

r ou te took him p a s t M t . Taylor and over t h e Cont inenta l Divide. Upon

Sandoval 's r e t u r n , the army was ordered t o advance passing K t . Taylor

and Sandoval 's p lace of residence t o t he west. On t h e march mEy a f e w

Navajo were met u n t i l Ojo de l Oso was reached, where t h e t r e a t y was

negot ia ted . The armed forces then re turned t o t h e i r camp a t Cubero.

Navajo r a i d s continued even a f t e r t he Doniphan Treaty of 1845, t o w i t h i n

20 m i l e s of Albuquerque. I n 1847, Maj. W. H. T. Walker l e d a n e x p e d i t i o n

t o Canyon de Chel ly. I n 1848, Col. Edward W. B. Newby led another expedi- -.

t i o n and nego t i a t ed another t r e a t y with t h e Navajo.

I n t h e 1849 campaign, the t roops moved northwest from Jemez through

Chasca Canyon t o Tunicha Valley, across Chuska Mountains t o Canyon de

Chel ly, where a t r e a t y was signed with t h e Navajo on S e p t e m b e r 9 , 1849.

By 1848, CeboLleta had been made a m i l i t a r y post t o guard a g z i n s t Navajo

r a i d s . However, i n s p i t e of t he presence of t h e posc and t h e peace t r e a t y

of September 9 , 1849, Navajo r a i d s continued Ln .the.Agua Salada r e g i o n and

along t h e Rio Puerco. In 1851, Col, Sumers l ed an exped i t i on a g a i n s t t h e

Navajos v i a Laguna, Sari Jose Valley t o Luni and then oil t o Canyon de Che l ly .

He r e p o r t e d "we s a w no Navajo u n t i l we reached Canyon Bonito" (Acoma-

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154

Laguna J o i n t E x . 530, p. 125). During t h i s campaign t h e Navajos con-

t inued t h e i r r a i d s 02 Laguna and Cebol le ta .

From the records i t appears t h a t t h e Navajo r a i d s were more f r e -

quent from the Pueblo of Acoma eastward t o the Rio Grande R ive r . However,

t h i s may have been because the Pueblos of Acoma and Zuni r e c e i v e d fewer

n o t i c e s because of t h e i r i s o l a t i o n . (Jt. E x . 530, p. 98)

h 1850 t h e Navajo s t o l e s e v e r a l thousand sheep from C e b o l l e t a ,

Agua Salada, and along t h e Rio Puerco, p r i n c i p a l l y from t h e Pueblos.

Raids on t h e Acornas and Lagunas cont inued i n t e r m i t t e c t l y through che 1850 ' s .

I n I858 r a i d s were made on Canyon Juan Tafoyz near Marquez, Cubero and

o the r Pueblos. These r a i d s were s o severe t h a t Jemez, Z ia , San ta Ana

and Laguna banded toge the r t o pursue the Navzjo but were dissuad.ed from

-- doing so . In t h i s same year an a r m i s t i c e was agreed upon and a t r e a t y

was nego t i a t ed whereby t h e Navajo agreed t o be confined w i t h i n t h e i r

own country. Sandoval was not r equ i r ed t o s e t t l e on t h e r e s e r v a t i o n

b u t w a s permit ted t o remain temporar i ly near Laguna i n t h e e a s t e r n

p o r t i o n of Canoncito. I n 1860-1861, Col. Canby l ed another e x p e d i t i o n

a g a i n s t t h e Navajo r a i d e r s . H i s r o u t e took him through Chaco Canyon

where another t r e a t y was s igned February 15, 1861. By i t s t e r m s t h e

Navajo agreed t o be confined west of Fauntleroy on t h e Ojo d e l Gal lo.

However, t h e r e i s evidence t h a t t h e Navajo r a i d s on Pueblo Ind iens and

t h e i r neighbors continued a s l a t e a s 1872-1873. The Lagunas and Acomas

cont inued t o reques t p r o t e c t i o n from these r a i d s .

31. In 1862, Colonel "Kit" Carson appears i n charge of a campaign

a g a i n s t t h e Navajo and Apache. While he was subduing t h e Apache, t h e

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154 197

Navajo continued t h e i r r a id ing . By 1863 Carson had begua h i s f l a ~ a j o cam-

paign by destroying t h e i r crops and s to rk and taking prisoners. However,

t he r a i d s continued. The same year Col. Carson c a r r i e d his c m p a i g n t o

Canyon de Chelly and u l t i n a t e l y s en t t he Indian p r i sone r s t o Bosque Redondo.

During t h e roundup of t he Navajo f o r i nca rce ra t ion a t iiosque Xedondo, t h e

Laguna rescued sone of the ch i ld ren of f r isndly Navajos by h id ing them i n

g r a i n b ins . (Acoma-Laguna J o i n t Ex. 530, pp. 151-1521

While s t i l l at Bosque Kedondo i n September 1867, Barbonci to and t e n

o the r Navajo c h i e f s met with General Getty a t Santa Be. They poin ted out

they were acc~s tomed t o l i v i n g a t d i f f e r e n t p laces , rather t han be ing

"huddled toge the r a t t h e Basque;" t h a t one group l i v e d a t the Tunicha M t s .

under k m i j o ; t h a t Barboncito and h i s people l i ved near Gear Springs (Ojo

d e l Oso) and toward t h e C;lzuska Mts. f a r t h e r zlorth; that Garlado MGC!~O and

Manuellto and t h e i r fol lowers l i v e d about Prreblo Colorado and toward Canyon

de Chel ly; and t h a t " the o ther c h i e f s and t h e i r bands ( l i v e d ) i n f i v e or

s ix d i f f e r e n t places." (Navajo Ex. 450, p. 2 )

Gen. W i l l i a m T. Sherman and S. F. Tappan a s Commissioners met w i t h

t h e Navajo l e a d e r s beginning May 28, 1868 a t F t . Sumner. Gen. Sherman

promised them they could s e t t l e between the 3an P ~ t e o Nountains and rhe

San Juan River i n the Chuska Mt. a rea , where they musz remain. Eie t hen

concluded a t r e a t y with them June 1, 1858 aid the Navajo were released

from Bosque Redondo upon the condit ion t h a t they r e t u r n t o t h e i r count ry

i n Canyon de Chel ly, t h e Chuska Mts., Ojo d e l Oso and t h e Tunicha M t s .

This t r e a t y terminated t h e i r imprisonment and crea ted a r e s e r v a t i o n i n

t h e i r homeland as defined i n Ar t i c l e 2 of t he treaby.

18 Ind . C1. Comm. 154

BY A r t i c l e 9 of s a i d t r e a t y , t h e Navajos ceded and r e l inqu i shed t o

t h e United S t a t e s t h e i r remaining lands a s def ined by Royce a s Area 519.

These lands l i e ou t s ide of t he Acoma-Laguna claimed a reas . Under t h i s same

a r t i c l e of t he t r e a t y , t he Navajo agreed t o r e l i n q u i s h a l l r i g h t s t o occupy

any t e r r i t o r y ou t s ide t h e i r r e s e r v a t i o n bu t r e t a i n e d the r i g h t t o hunt on

any unoccupied land contiguous w i t h t h e i r r e s e r v e s , so lcng as the l a r g e

game ranged thereon i n numbers t o j u s t i f y t h e . c h a s e . The r e s e r v a t i o n s e t

a s i d e f o r t h e Navajo lay f a r beyond t h e o u t e r boundaries of any l ands h e r e i n

claimed by e i t h e r Acoma: o r Laguna. However, t h e Navajos d i d n o t s t a y long

w i t h i n t h e r e se rva t ion boundaries des igna ted by t h e t r e a t y . Thus, a l i t t l e

ove r a y e a r l a t e r on August 8 , 1869, a r e p o r t was made t h a t h a l f of t he

Navajo t r i b e was p l ac t ing f i e l d s o u t s i d e r h e r e s e r v a t i o n l i m i t s . S ~ m c o f

t h e Navajo f a i l e d t o comply wi th t h e c o n d i t i o n s of t h e i r r e l e a s e f r o m Bosque

bXkmlo by s e t t l i n g i n Canada de Pedro Pade l lo , and i n t h e Cubero-Laguna-

Cebo l k t a a r e a where they cont inued t h e i r depreda t ions . Sone of t h e s e Nava j 0 s

were members of t he Sandoval group. S h o r t l y a f t e r 1868 Spanish Americans

s e t t l e d fn many of the a r eas ad jo in ing Acoma and Laguna and employed Navajos

t o work f o r them. E f f o r t s t o remove t h e Navajos from t h i s a r e a were f r u i t -

less. I n 1870 some Navajos who had s topped around Cebo l l e t a , were p e r m i t t e d

t o remain temporari ly . Ul t imate ly , however, many of t he Navajo gave up t h e

s t r u g g l e t o remain i n t he Cebolleta-Cubero-Laguna-Acoma a r e a s and r e t u r n e d

t o t h e r e se rva t ion .

3 2 . Based on the f ind ings of f a c t h e r e i n and the record a s a w h o l e ,

we f i n d t h a t a s of February 2 , 1848, and subsequent t h e r e t o , t h e maximum

a r e a e x c l u s i v e l y used and occupied by t h e Pueblo de Acoma and t o which

18 Ind. C 1 . Comm. 154

s a i d Pueblo had Ind ian t i t l e , i s descr ibed ss foLLows:

Beginning eE a ~ o i n t s h e r e t5e n c r ~ ~ e r n edge af t he Mesa d e l Oro i n t e r s e c t s the s t i p u l a t e d Acorns-3sgxxi comma 5 o ~ n d a r y l i n e between ranges srx (6) 3rd Seven ( 7 ) west; t lwnce, pro- ceeding in a nor the r ly d i r e c t i o n s long s a i d boundsry l i n e t o a point where s a i d l i n e i n t e r s e c z s the southern boundsry 3f t h e Cubero Grant; thence, fol lowicg he s o c ~ h e r n boanzary of t h e Cubero Grant t o cOe southwest corner t ke reo f ; thence, proceed- ing northwardly along the west boundsry of sa id Cubero Great t o a poin t where sa id west Soundary i n t e r s e c t s the souther2 boundary of the CeboLEeta Crhnt; t h e x e , on s Line nor thwes ter ly t o Se jo Colorado (poifit 1); thence, soazherly on a l i n e t o Old Breece (poin t 2) ; thence, sourher ly on a line t o Notch i n Oso Ridge (poin t 3) ; thence, souther ly through Tinaj a R ~ i n (poin t 4 ) and El Marro (poin t 5) tg NesaAgrrila(poLn% 0 ) ; thence, south- e r l y on a l i n e t o Cerro Cabra (poin t 7 ) ; thence, on a lFne t o Cesro Mujer (poic t 8 ) ; thence, souther ly on a 1 h e t o Cerro Veteado (poin t 9) and then south t o Gerro Tecbedo (poin t 10); thence, in a sou theas t e r ly d i r e c t i o n t o Grande fablazao, approximately halfway between Cerra Techado and Tres Lagmas at some o ld Acsma r u i n s (po in t 11); thence, e e s t e r l y along Lorna Czssdo Vendados and Canada Alemosa or klan~ocita Creek, fol lowing elong the S ~ w t o o t h Mountains t o Pxroyo Sogvetoso near Ms&anE Ranch (point: 12) ; thence e e s t e r l y ' f o ~ ~ o w i n ~ Alamocita Creek a ~ d the R F s Salado t o Tres Eemepos (po in t 13); thence no r the r ly on a l i n e t o the p lace of b e g i m i n ~ .

The p o i n t s r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e above dexcrkption a r e se t out on Acoma

Exh ib i t No. 1.

33. As a p a r t of t he present case before the Cornissfon, p e t i t i o n e r

renews i t s claim t h a t t he 1877 survey of the Pueblo of Acoma G r a n t was

erroneous a d sbould have included a mach Perger ares . A b r i e f survey

of the background of t h i s claim i s as f o l l w s :

'khe United S t a t e s i s sued a patent t o t5e Pueblo 05 Acorna on Novem-

be r 19, 1877, f o r the lands i t claimed under a grant from the Spanish

government. However, the Pueblo of Acolma d i spu ted the c o r r e c t n e s s of

the survey of these lands as patented by the United Scates . Therefore ,

18 Ind. C 1 . Comrn. 154 200

although two o f f i c i a l surveys had been made, one i n September 1876 and

the o ther i n March 1877 i n an e f f o r t t o pa t en t t h e Lands g ran ted by

Spain, t he P ~ e b l o of Acoma, on August 19, 1883, reques ted a re-examinat ion

of t he survey upon which t h e patent had been i s sued , c lziming e r r o r s i n

the nor thern and western boundaries. 'Accordingly, t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e

I n t e r i o r , on Apr i l 1, 1884, d i r ec t ed the Surveyor General t o make another

examination of t h e no r the rn and western boundaries of zhe t r a c t pacented

t o t he Pueblo of Acoma and t o hear testimony r e s p e c t i n g t h e b o w d a r i e s

claimed by t h e Acoma Indians . In accordance wi th t h e above i n s t r u c t i o n s

t h e Scrveyor General i s sued no t i ce s t o a l l p a r t i e s i n t e r e s t e d and h e l d

hear ings i n October 1884 t o determine the co r r ec tnes s o r i n c o r r e c t n e s s

of the d isputed boundaries. A r e p o r t was made and d e c i s i o n rendered

- January 26, 1885 i n which t h e Surveyor General found t h a t t h e evidence

submitted by t h e Indians was not s u f f i c i e n t t o j u s t i f y a new survey. An

appea l w a s f i l e d by t h e Pueblo with t h e Commissioner of the General Land

Off ice on January 5 , 1886. The Commissioner reviewed a l l of t h e evidence

presented and on June 10, 1886 aff i rmed t h e dec i s ion of t h e Surveyor General.

P e t i t i o n e r has submitted evidence on t h i s po in t which g i v e s some sub-

s t ance t o i t s claim t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l Acoma land g r a n t w a s l a r g e r t han

t h e 1877 survey i n d i c a t e s . However, a t t he same t ime, p e t i t i o n e r has

a l s o shown by s u b s t a n t i a l evidence t h a t t he same land which would have

been inc luded i n t h e Pueblo of Acoma Grant i n t h e event t h a t t h e 1877 survey

should be found t o be erroneous was a l s o being exc lus ive ly used and occnpied

by t h e Pueblo of Acoma a t t h a t time and, t h e r e f o r e , belonged t o s a i d

pueblo under Indian t i t l e . Therefore, s ince t h i s Commission only

18 Ind. C 1 . Connn. 154

g r a n t s money judgments and t h e va lue of t he land involved is the same

whether h e l d by Spanish Grant or Indian t i t l e , t h e Commission does not

f e e l it necessary t o decide t h e ques t ion of whether o r no t t h e 1877 survey

I was f audulent o r erroneous because p e t i t i o n e r w i l l be compenssted t h e r same i n e i t h e r event .

3 4 . We conclude a s a mat te r of law t h a t a l l v a l i d Spanish o r Mexican

land g r a n t s o r p a r t s thereof ly ing w i t h i n t h e e x t e r i o r boundaries s e t f o r t h

above i n Finding 32 a r e excluded from any a r e a w i t h i n t h e above boundaries

f o r which p e t i t i o n e r may be compensated under t h e Indian Claims Commission

Act. We a l s o conclude t h a t because of t h e f a i l u r e of t h e United S t a t e s

t o p r o t e c t t h e Pueblo de Acoma i n i ts r i g h t s of u se and occupancy of t h e

remaining a r e a s descr ibed i n Finding 32 above, t h e United S t a t e s is l i a b l e

un@r S e c t i o n 2, c lause 4, of t h e Indian C l a i m s Commission Act, t o s a i d

p e t i t i o n e r f o r t h e va lue of these remaining a reas a s of t h e da t e o r

d a t e s t o be determined by a f u t u r e hearing before t h i s Commission. %e

case w i l l now proceed t o a determinat ion of t h e d a t e o r d a t e s when the

United S t a t e s became l i a b l e f o r p e t i t i o n e r ' s l o s s of s a i d lands, t h e va lue

of said l a n d s as of t h a t t ime, and a de termina t ion a l s o a s t o what o f f s e t s ,

if any, defendant is e n t i t l e d under t he Indian C l a i m s Commission Act.

(Signed) Arthur V. Watkics Chief Commissioner

(Signed) Wm. M. Holt Associate Conmissioner

(Signed) T. Harold Sco t t Associate Commissioner