The Utah Black Hawk War - Research News & Updates

 

11/19/2024

Utah Native American population stands at 79,000

AXIOS reports that according to the 2023 census Utah's Indigenous popuplation now stands at 79,000! That's about the same number when Brigham Young and the Mormons first arrived in 1847.

 

11/12/2024

REPATRIATION OF TIMPANOGOS CHIEF BLACK HAWK'S REMAINS

Timpanogos Chief Black Hawk was not a member of the Ute Tribe of the Uintah Ouray Reservation. Author and historian Phillip B Gottfredson obtained permission from the Department of the Interior NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection Repatriation Act) to publish the following official report on the examination of Timpanogos Chief Black Hawk's mortal remains before his reburial at Spring Lake, Utah. Chief Black Hawk was not Ute! It's another colonial lie that needs to be buried.

"The human remains and associated objects were accessions by the
Museum of Latter-Day Saints Church History in 1919. At that time, a
local physician attempted to confirm a report that the human remains
were those of the Timpanogots' Chief Black Hawk who had died in 1870
and had been buried in the same approximate location. The physician
collected statements from Chana E. Hales, William E. Croft, Louise N.
Pace, and Ben H. Bullock who had known Black Hawk. These individuals
identified many of the objects as Black Hawk's personal effects. "

See Repatriation Document of Timpanogos Chief Document

 

11/9/2024

End Settler-Colonialism!

What is Settler-Colonialism, and how do we stop it?

According to Cornell Law School, "The concept of settler colonialism can be defined as a system of oppression based on genocide and colonialism, that aims to displace a population of a nation (oftentimes indigenous people) and replace it with a new settler population. Settler colonialism finds its foundations on a system of power perpetuated by settlers that represses indigenous people’s rights and cultures by erasing it and replacing it by their own." See Cornell Law School definition of settler colonialism.

Oxford Bibliographies states, "Settler colonialism is an ongoing system of power that perpetuates the genocide and repression of indigenous peoples and cultures." See Oxford Bibliographies Settler Colonialism.

UCLU Utah, "Indigenous justice is the freedom and ability of Indigenous people to exercise their rights and sovereignty over themselves, their people, and their land." See UCLU Utah

I did a survey and was shocked at how many people I interviewed believed that settler colonialism ended with the Civil War. WOW! Well, folks, I am here to tell you it is still alive. Discrimination, racism, subjugation, and assimilation are still very much alive, not just in North America but around the world. One person asked, "How do we end it?"

I don't believe any one person has the answer. But, I strongly believe the answer lies beyond religion. I believe change begins within. Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Carlos Barrios, Mayan Elders Council, describes in his book The Book of Destiny that "Somewhere along the way, Western society began to assume that human beings have the right to dominate plants, animals, even each other. The result of this materialist outlook is an economical, ecological, social, and moral crisis that has caused the downfall of other cultures." See Phillip B Gottfredson In The Heart of Mayan Country

I wrote in my book Black Hawk's Mission of Peace, "Native American culture is a perfect example of total spirituality without religion. Elders of the shoshonee and other Tribes, invited me to participate in numerous ceremonies. It was life-changing. The spiritual experiences I had humbled me, and profoundly changed my understanding of Native American culture, and opened my eyes to the sacred connection we have with Mother Earth," See Time To Look Beyond Religion For Answers

We can learn so much from First Nations people if we get out of our heads and listen with our hearts. We need to help each other. We are all interconnected and interdependent upon one another. We need each other to survive and live. We need each other as equals. We are all in a relationship with each other. And each becomes a relative by relationship. We must help each other learn the truth and heal from over a century of fake history. We must find a pathway to forgiveness and help build that bridge between our cultures with compassion, honesty, and mutual respect for humanity.

 

10/29/2024

Repeat after me... Ask The Timpanogos!

At BlackHawkProductions.com, we understand the critical importance of our online ranking. It's not just about being at the top but showing up consistently in related categories. Our high ranking and consistent presence in categories like "Utah Indian Wars" or "The Utah Black Hawk War," are a testament to our success and the importance of our online presence.

Over the past decade, we've faced numerous challenges in re-educating people about the Timpanogos who are Snake-Shoshone and not Ute. We asked the Timpanogos, and published a book, "My Journey To Understand Black Hawk's Mission of Peace." I remember a time when people didn't even know they existed, despite a 12,000-foot mountain in the central part of the state called Mt. Timpanogos. And I was one of them. This mountain, named by Spanish explorers Domingus and Escalante in honor of the Timpanogos Nation in 1776, stands as a testament to its significance. Seeing the number of businesses and institutions that bear the name Timpanogos is inspiring. However, they refer to the majestic mountain, not the Tribe displaced by Mormon colonialism.

It's truly baffling, isn't it? The solution is simple: ask the Timpanogos Nation about their unique history, and read the book! But does anyone, especially historians, engage with the Timpanogos? Do our schools teach the unique and true history of the Timpanogos? Not even the school that bears the name, No, believe it or not, no one has ever asked the Timpanogos who they are or their version of the Black Hawk War in Utah until recently. But if you read the opening paragraph on our Homepage, you will know why. This lack of engagement has fueled our mission since before 2002.

The good news is that we have over 9000 followers a month! Yes! We sincerely appreciate your support and interest in the Timpanogos Nation's history. Your support is what keeps us going and we cannot thank you enough for it. Thank you so very much!

 

10/15/2024

“Violence shifted from warfare to killing”

When you thought the story of the beheadings at Fort Utah in 1850 couldn't get any worse, we've uncovered new information that will make your stomach turn. This local perspective, known as the Massacre at Table Point, was missing from our story of Fort Utah until now. See Massacre at Table Point

10/11/2024

The Church can rewrite history to suit its religious beliefs

"LDS scholars, it's time to stop insulting and denigrating the Timpanogos people. It's unacceptable to use racist terms or publish fake stories and photographs. The Timpanogos people are human beings - Indigenous, Native Americans, and First Nation People. They are Shoshone and not Ute. As members of the human race, they have an inalienable right to fight settler colonialism, and we must support them in this fight."

When my late brother, David, and I began our research of the Utah Black Hawk War in 1989, we couldn't understand why no one was telling the Timpanogos version of the story. Two decades later, people are still arguing whether the Timpanogos are Ute. At least discussions are going on, but what is disturbing is that those arguments have been going on for over a hundred years. Even more troubling is that those who argue never ask the Timpanogos! There is no logic in that. Why would scholars not talk to the Timpanogos, who have thousands of pages of documentation proving who they are?

I have lived with many other Indigenous Tribes in North and South America and have not found the same problem. That's right, only in Utah have I seen so much confusion over who is who and who did what to whom. Why? I am going to give you a clue: Religious Atomony. Religious Autonomy is "the right of religious institutions to govern themselves without interference from the government. It is a principle protected by the Constitution's religious clauses which is based on the idea of separation of Church and state." In other words, the Church can rewrite history to suit its religious beliefs. That means they can lie unchallenged as long as they tell the story from their religious perspective, i.e., the Book of Mormon. From a moral and ethical standpoint, you say it's just not right, and I agree. But from a legal perspective, morals and ethics don't apply.

If you would like to discuss this matter, please visit our Facebook page (link above) and I will open a chat forum.

 

10/03/2024

Sunstone.org Utah Black Hawk War Podcast with Phillip B Gottfredson & Lindsay Hansen Park

You are invited to listen to the Sunstaone.org Podcast with Phillip B Gottfredson and Linsay Hansen Park discussing the Utah Black Hawk War from the Native American perspective. Click Here: https://sunstone.org/episode-133-the-black-hawk-war/

 

9/29/2024

The Native Nation Festival !!

The Timpanogos Cultural Festival had a great turnout! Gary Lee Price brought his magnificent bronze statue of Timpanogos Chief Wakara, titled "Anew Day," to the event, stealing the show. The 5th great-granddaughter of Wakara, Jamie, seen in the photo with Phillip B Gottfredson, was also present, along with Rustin Bonner, who drove from Oregon to support his Tribe. Artist Carol Pettit Harding, who designed the cover for Phillip B Gottfredson's book "Black Hawk's Mission of Peace," also attended with her daughter Fawn.

Unexpectedly, the University Mall made a surprising alteration to the program without informing Mary Meyer of the Timpanogos. The event, previously centered on the Timpanogos and known as the Timpanogos Cultural Festival, was rebranded as the Native Nations Festival this year. Despite this unexpected change, the event saw meaningful participation from the Morning Star Academy Preparatory School, the Allan Grover family, and the ASD Title 6, a federally funded Native American education program. Each was given a half hour to share their unique perspectives and stories.

Mary Meyer and Perry Murdock spoke on behalf of the Timpanogos, addressing how history has distorted the past and robbed them of their culture. Their authenticity and courage in reminding people of the colonization of Utah were evident, earning them the respect of all who were present.

The Timpanogos tribe significantly impacted the event, particularly with the presence of Gary Lee Price's statue of Chief Wakara and his descendants. Their authenticity and courage in reminding people of the colonization of Utah were evident, inspiring all who were present. Indeed, it was a new day for the Timpanogos; their authenticity was a standout feature, setting them apart at the event.

9/28 2024

 

Come see us at the Timpanogos Cultural estival at University Place in Orem, Utah 3 to 6pm TODAY!!

9/26/2024

Remembering Timpanogos Chief Black Hawk passed over on this day September 26, 1870. See Black Hawk's Burial.

 

9/19/2024

Refresh pages, Phillip has been making changes again!!

We have restructured our website to make it easier to navigate while browsing. The Research Menu at the top of each Story page is the best way to find general key sections. For specific subjects or to follow the Black Hawk War story sequentially please go to the Research Menu at the top of each page. New feature in navagation is, if you are just browsing click on the NEXT link at the bottom of each page to follow the Black Hawk War story chronologically.

We found a bunch of pages with awesome information we forgot we had and linked them up to the Research Menu! We corrected some mistakes and tightened things up. Slight changes can have a good or bad effect on our rankings. But the most important thing for us is our visitors. We want you always to have a good experience when you visit us. Hope you are having a great day!!

 

9/14/2024

The Timpanogos Nation Is Snake-Shoshone

I have a question for the Ute Tribe of the Uintah Ouray Reservation. You say the Timpanogos are Ute because you claim their Chiefs Sanpitch, Wakara, and Black Hawk are your Chiefs, and you have no documentation to prove that BTW, then why is the Ute Tribe not paying the Timpanogos royalties on the millions of gallons you export off the Uintah Valley Reservation each month? -Phillip B Gottfredson

9/13/2024

The Lie Said To The Truth

I love this so much I think I will memorize it! It's from the 18th century.

 

The Lie said to the Truth, "Lets take a bath together, the water is very nice."

The Truth, still suspicious, tested the water and found out it was nice, so they got naked and bathed.

But suddenly, the Lie leapt out of the water and fled, wearing the clothes of Truth. The truth, furious, raced out of the pond to get her clothes back. But the world, upon seeing the naked Truth, looked away with anger and contempt.

Poor Truth returned to the pond and disappeared forever hiding in shame.

Since then, the Lie runs around dressed as the truth, and society is very happy, because the world has no desire to know the naked Truth. (UNKNOWN)

 

9/7/2024

Special Order #1

The question asked is, if there was an Order #2 to exterminate the Timpanogos Tribe, what was Order #1?

 

Source: Battle at Fort Utah. (2024, August 1). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_at_Fort_Utah

Order No. 1 was a war-order from Apostle Daniel H. Wells to the Nauvo Legion allerting them to prepare to exterminate the Timpanogos Nation. Special Order #2. was the actual order to General George D Grant of the Nauvo Legion, to carry out the order at Fort Utah. See Fort Utah for more information.

8/20/2024

Special Order No. 2

“On January 31, 1850, Apostle Daniel H. Wells drafted orders for Captain George D. Grant to exterminate the Timpanogos, known as Special Order No. 2. The decision was the result of a meeting with Isaac Higbee, bishop of Fort Utah, together with the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Higbee reported conflict between the pioneers and the Timpanogos, and it was unanimously decided the only way to keep Fort Utah would be to exterminate the Timpanogos.

“The initial detachment commenced battle on February 8, 1850 under Captain Grant. However, after hearing reports of poor attitude of the settlers in working with Grants’s troops, Brigham Young asked Wells to lead a detachment. On February 11th, Wells arrived and split the army into two. One contingent followed the trail of some Timpanogos who had fled up Rock Canyon. Wells led the other contingent south towards Spanish Fork river. He divided them into smaller parties and searched the southern valley for native peoples to kill. On February 14th, at Table Rock near the southeastern shore of Utah lake, one of the smaller hunting parties captured a band of Utes. Lieutenant Gunnison of the Stansbury Expedition reported that the Mormons promised to be friendly to the Timpanogos men, but then lined up the men to be executed in front of their families. Some attempted to flee across the frozen lake, but the Mormons ran after them on horseback and shot them. At least eleven Ute men were killed. In total, one militia man and an estimated 102 Timpanogos were killed.”~Wells’s Special Order No. 2, Utah State Archives, State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah Territorial Militia Correspondence, 1849-1863, ST-27, Microfilm reel 1, Document No. 5. Eugene E. Campbell. Establishing Zion~

Brigham Young is quoted saying, “I say go [and] kill them…Tell Dimick Huntington to go and kill them—also Barney Ward—let the women and children live if they behave themselves…We have no peace until the men [are] killed off—never treat the Indian as your equal.” ~BYC, Microfilm reel 80, box 47, folder 6. Farmer, Jared (2008). On Zion’s Mount: Mormons, Indians, and the American Landscape. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674027671~

“There is a curse on these aborigines of our country who roam the plains, and are so wild that you cannot tame them. They are of the house of Israel; they once had the Gospel delivered to them, they had oracles of truth; Jesus came and administered to them after his resurrection, and they received and delighted in the Gospel until the fourth generation, then they turned away and become so wicked that God cursed them with this dark and benighted and loathsome condition; and they want to sit on the ground in the dirt, and to live by hunting, and they cannot be civilized. And right upon this, I will say to our government if they could hear me, ‘You need never fight the Indians, but if you want to get rid of them try to civilize them.’ How many were here when we came? At the Warm Springs, at this little grove where they would pitch their tents, we found perhaps three hundred Indians; but I do not suppose that there are three of that bank left alive now. There was another band a little south, another north, another further east; but I do not suppose there is one in ten, perhaps not one in a hundred, now alive of those who were here when we came. Did we kill them? No, we fed them. They would say, ‘We want just as fine flour as you have.’  To Walker, the chief, whom all California and New Mexico dreaded, I said, ‘It will just as sure kill as the world, if you live as we live.’ Said he, ‘I want as good as Brigham, I want to eat as he does.’ Said I, ‘Eat then, but it will kill you.’ I told the same to Arapeen, Walker’s brother; but they must eat and drink as the whites did, and I do not suppose that one in a hundred of those bands are alive. We brought their children into our families, and nursed and did everything for them it was possible to do for human beings, but die they would. Do not fight them, but treat them kindly. There will then be no stain on the Government, and it will get rid of them much quicker than by fighting them. They have got to be civilized, and there will be a remnant of them saved.” ~Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 14:86-87 (9 April 1871)~ See Fort Utah Massacre

 

 

8/19/2024

THERE IS NO UINTAH OURAY RESERVATION

Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of the Department of Interior, recommended to President Lincoln that the Uintah Valley, in the Territory of Utah, be set apart and reserved for the use and occupancy of Indian Tribes of Utah. "I respectfully recommend that you order the entire valley of the Uintah River within Utah Territory, extending on both sides of said river to the first range of contiguous mountains on each side, to be reserved to the United States and set apart as an Indian reservation," he said. President Abraham Lincoln responded, "Executive Office Oct. 3, 1861," with the President's words, "Let the reservation be established, as recommended by the Secretary of the Interior." The Uintah Valley Reservation was then enacted into law on May 5, 1864, by the Act of Congress.

The Ute Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray agency wasn't federally recognized until 1937, under the constitutional name "Ute Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation." Ute Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation is the Ute Nation's constitutional name, BUT THERE IS NO UINTAH OURAY RESERVATION. There has never been any congressional action that created a reservation called the "Uintah & Ouray Reservation." The Ute Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation lives on the Uintah Valley Reservation and are also referred to as the Northern Ute. See The Timpanogos Nation Is Not Ute

 

8/18/2024

I have updated the Timpanogos Nation Is Not Ute page for clarity. I rewrote much of it, making the page shorter to read. This has been consistently one of our more popular pages explaining that the Timpanogos Nation is not Ute, even though most of Mormon history says differently. It has been quite remarkable that over time, not only have the Timpanogos been written out of history, but a Tribe who killed a government Indian Agent was sent to Utah as a "prisoners of war" became the ruling tribe. As they say, follow the money.

 

8/17/2024 UPDATE

Recently, I came upon an article that was published in 1860 by the LDS Church-owned newspaper THE DESERET News:

"DEATH OF ARAPEEN

MANTI, SANPETE COUNTY

December 9, 1860

ED. Deseret NEWS:

The Utah chief Arapeen died on Tuesday last the 4th instant about sixty miles south of this place; he was on his return from the Navajo country where he had been on a trafficking expedition together with many of his tribe or band. He died with good feelings towards the whites in this part of the territory for their hospitality to him and his people, and requested that no person should be killed on account of his death.

I had a visit this morning from his brother Sanpitch and ten others of the tribe. He is at present, the leader of the band and wishes, as well as his men, to be at peace with all. They mourn the loss of Arapeen, Sanpitch, his brother's horses, and five of his cattle were killed after he died. He wants the superintendent to come up this way with some of his presents if he has not given them all to Little Solder, the pe-up captain. He wishes to have Arapeen's death published in the papers.

Yours & C.&.,

George Snow."

This article is significant for two reasons. First, it helps establish that Sanpitch was a brother of Arapeen. Second, Sanpitch was the father of Black Hawk and became the principal Chief of the Timpanogos Nation when Arapeen died from the smallpox epidemic in 1860. Sanpitch was Murdered in 1866 when his brother Tabby became the Nation's principal Chief. Also we should keep in mind this is one of those one-sided versions, and I don't believe that Arapeen was as warm toward the Mormons as the reporter states here. Keeping in mind all the horrific events of the previous 23 years, resulting in the loss oif countless lives and their homeland. - Phillip B Gottfredson

P.S. I have corrected the date of Arapeen's death on the Timpanogos Nation Biography & The Utah Black Hawk War page.

8/15/2024

Springville City Library accepted Phillip B Gottfredson's book My Journey to Understand Black Hawk's Mission of Peace and is now available to the public. THANK YOU SPRINGVILLE CITY LIBRARY!!

8/10/2024

Federal recognition does not determine the authenticity or existence of a tribe

Note: The Timpanogos Nation may not have received federal recognition yet, but they are Indigenous to the state of Utah. Since time immemorial, they have been Indigenous to the Great Basin and North America. The Department of The Interior clearly states that federal recognition does not determine the authenticity or existence of a tribe, it confirms the existence of a nation-to-nation relationship between an Indian tribe and the United States government. In the case TIMPANOGOS vs CONWAY in 2002 the Federal Court stated "A Tribe recognition or lack of recognition by the secretary of the Interior does not determin weather the Tribe has vested Treaty Rights." Green 64 F. 3 d at 1270. Federal Common Law gives Indigenous people their vested Treaty Rights. Federal recognition is optional, many Native American Tribes who have deep historical and cultural roots are independent of federal recognition. Federal recognition is important to Indian tribes for several reasons. First, when they are extended federal recognition, they can establish tribal governments that possess a measure of sovereignty.

-Phillip B Gottfredson

8/9/2024

IT'S TIME TO REVISIT THE DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY

The Doctrine of Discovery was created in 1493, a year after Columbus arrived on the shores of North America; Christian Monarchies decreed that anyone who did not believe in the God of the Bible were deemed "heathens," "infidels," and "savages."

Steven T. Newcomb, Indigenous Law Institute and author of "Pagans in the Promised Land" said it succinctly: "Indian nations have been denied their most basic rights ... simply because, at the time of Christendom's arrival in the Americas, they did not believe in the God of the Bible, and did not believe that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah... This is the land promised by the Eternal Father to the Faithful, since we are commanded by God in the Holy Scriptures to take it from them, being idolaters, by reason of their idolatry and sin, to put them all to the knife, leaving no living thing save maidens and children, their cities robbed and sacked, their walls and houses leveled to the earth. This is the basis for the denial of Indian rights in federal Indian law and remains as true today as it was in 1823."

Just before the massacre at Fort Utah, Mormon apostle George A. Smith, a cousin to Church founder Joseph Smith declared heathens "have no right to their land." And while the LDS Church had no legal basis to remove indigenous peoples from their aboriginal land and violated the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848. Smith ordered the all-Mormon legislature to "extinguish all titles" and get them out of the way and onto reservations because they were "heathens" and "savages." So the stage was set for the extermination of the Timpanogos Nation that would follow. George A. Smith was 33 when he initiated the genocide of the Timpanogos Nation.

WOW!! Folk's could I make it any clearer what the Mormon's did to the Timpanogos Nation was based entirely upon frivolous religious fanaticism having no legal basis what-so-ever to do what they did?

Note: Pope Francis has renounced the 500 year old Doctrine of Discovery as of March 2024.

 

8/8/2024

Historians Break with Tradition and Reach Out to The Timpanogos!

The good news is a few historians in Utah have reached out to the Timpanogos and offered to help them get Federal Recognition! WOW!! According the Timpanogos Council, I have been told that several historians have written letters to the Department of The Interior in favor of the Timpanogos Tribe getting recognition.

I will keep our readers informed as information is made available. - Phillip B Gottfredson

 

8/2/2024

It's been very busy at Blackhawkproductions.com, and we have some exciting news to share. Our new books have arrived, and we are thrilled about it! The success of our fundraiser has left us feeling incredibly grateful. This morning, we were touched by Mr. Gottfredson's generosity as he donated two copies of My Journey to Understand Black Hawk's Mission of Peace to his hometown library in Springville, Utah. This act of kindness is a testament to the impact of our work.

As we look ahead, we have some exciting plans for August. Sunstone Mormon Histories has extended a formal invitation to Mr. Gottfredson to be a guest speaker on their podcast. We are eagerly anticipating this event and will share the details of the time and date soon. Stay tuned for more updates!

More good news! Traffic to our website has tripled over what it was last year, a clear indication of our growing influence and the increasing interest in our work!! We have worked hard to freshen things up and tweak things to run smoothly. Now in our 21st year online! How time flies when you're having fun!

We especially want to thank all our visitors for their support. Just a reminder: You are always welcome to send us your comments. Thank you! Please share, tell your friends, and if you don't have any, tell your enemies!

 

Fundraiser update 7/17/2024

We have 100 copies of My Journey to Understand Black Hawk's Mission of Peace on the way from the publisher! Thanks to our donors, our fundraiser was a great success!

I NEED YOUR HELP to say BIg HUgs!! Thank you!!

Udate: 7/13/2024 By request, people asked if I would extend thefundraiser another week! So I have, and the additional funds will go toward purchasing more books. Thank you!!

Update: 7/11/2024 I have recieved $1670 in donations! THANK YOU!

Upadte: as of 7/7/2024 I have recieved $620 in donations!

I have two book signing event's comming up in July and I need help so I can purchase 100 copies of my book Black Hawk's Mission of Peace. I have setup a GoFundMe account to raise $1500. 100% of the funds will go toward purchasing books. Thank you for your support!

-Phillip B Gottfredson

 

06/24/2024

How many LDS Church historians have spoken to the Timpanogos Nation in the past 100 years?

(crickets)

06/05/2024

Where do you get your source material?

We frequently get asked where we get our stories. Answer: First Nations, State Archives, Church Archives, University of Utah Special Collections, Brigham Young University Special Collections, to name a few. For more sources see Phillip B Gottfredson Biography and Source Material

 

06/01/2024

A RESPONSE TO WARD RADIO - PART 1 by Kyle Bishop is available for viewing on our Facebook page Utah's Black Hawk War.

Ward Radio attacked all who have said that Brigham Young signed an extermination order known as Order #2, saying it isn't true. Ward Radio LDS, Radio, and Podcast Community also claims that people are just attacking the church.

In Kyle's hour-long video, he methodically addresses Ward Radio's claim with carefully researched documentation while pointing out that Ward Radio offered its audience zero documentation.

It's particularly valuable for those who maintain a healthy skepticism to invest the time to watch.

 

6/01/2024

Federal Recognition

It's important to note that federal recognition does not determine the authenticity or existence of a tribe; it only confirms the existence of a nation-to-nation relationship between an Indian tribe and the United States. Because it is optional, many Native American Tribes with deep historical and cultural roots are independent of federal recognition. The Timpanogos Nation currently consists of about 1000 descendants of the 'Royal Bloodline' living on the Uintah Valley Reservation in Utah, and they have filed for recognition.

The Utah State Division of Indian Affairs disagrees. For example, Google "Native American Tribes in Utah." You will see six Tribes listed, but not The Timpanogos Tribe. Why? According to the Utah State Division of Indian Affairs, "We only acknowledge Tribes that are Federally Recognized."

Well, that's their choice. However, they are Indigenous to Utah and have filed with the Department of the Interior some 13000 pages of documents, genealogy, bloodlines, birth records, Indian Agency records, etc., proving they are American Indians, Indigenous, Native American, and shoshonee. Still, are they listed among the Native Tribes of Utah?

Why don't the English, Danish, Germans, and all other nationalities living in the United States have to be federally recognized?

5/17/2024

OOPS!!

If you have tried to purchase our book Black Hawk's Mission of Peace from our website here and you got an error message, it has been fixed. We are very sorry for any convienance. Thank you for your understanding.

5/11/2024

A misleading myth that glosses over the brutal reality of settler colonialism

The notion that Brigham Young building relations with the Timpanogos by feeding and not fighting them helped develop and improve relations is a misleading myth that glosses over the brutal reality of settler colonialism in Utah. The truth is that the Mormon settlement of the Great Basin was based on the violent seizure of an entire territory of the Timpanogos Nation and its resources, which resulted in the decimation of their population and their forced relocation and confinement to reservations.

Quoting the Boston Review 2021- The United States is Not "A Nation of Imagrants"

by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

"This idea of the gift-giving Indian helping to establish and enrich the development of the United States is a screen that obscures the fact that the very existence of the country is a result of the looting of an entire continent and its resources, reducing the Indigenous population, and forcibly relocating and incarcerating them in reservations. The fundamental unresolved issues of Indigenous lands, treaties, and sovereignty could not but scuttle the premises of multiculturalism for Native Americans. Multiculturalism persisted into the neoliberal twenty-first century, culminating in widespread “diversity” training, the coining of a new term, “people of color,” and the production of Hamilton, which not only erased the Indigenous peoples and African slavery but also turned the white founding fathers, who authored a Constitution that recognized only white people as citizens, into brown and Black men."

4/21/2024

CONGRATULATIONS MARY MURDOCK MEYER!!!

Mary Meyer, Chief Executive of the Timpanogos Nation, has just been made "Global Women Peace Ambassador" for the Women's Federation For World Peace USA.

From my heart to yours Mary you are the best!!

Phillip B Gottfredson

 

04/2/2024

There Are No Known Photos of Timpanogos Chief Antonga Black Hawk

In 2019, Phillip B Gottfredson completed the writing of Black Hawk's Mission of Peace when he asked his long-time friend Carol Pettit Harding if she could recreate the face of Timpanogos Chief Black Hawk from an old historic photo of his skull. 

William E. Croff, shown holding Black Hawk's skull, is credited with having dug up Black Hawk's remains back in 1919 at Spring Lake above Payson, Utah. Carol, in her 80s, examined the photo closely, and after some enhancement of the old photo, Carol was confident she could recreate the face of Black Hawk from the photo.

The Timpanogos Tribe granted permission for Carol to do the work, and Phillip provided other photos of Tribal members, past and present, to help Carol in the process. Mr. Gottfredson also provided Carol with historical documents that described in detail what Black Hawk looked like and what he wore. After nearly two months of tedious work, Carol and Phillip made a special trip to the Uintah Valley Reservation to meet with Mary Meyer, Chief Executive of the Timpanogos Nation. As Mary and members of the Tribe looked at Carol's work, they said, "He looks like uncle Frank." Satisfied with Carol's work, permission was granted to Phillip to publish Black Hawk's image in his book. See Timpanogos Chief Black Hawk's Grave

 

03/21/2024

 

Celebrating Life, Art, and The Human Spirit

by Phillip B Gottfredson

It's always a rich and uplifting experience to visit Gray Lee Prices Alchemy Arts Foundry in Springville, Utah. Today was no less exciting. Gary and Leesa Price shared not only their most recent projects but also their vision for humanity.

Gary Price's Statue of Responsibility, temporarily located outside the famous La Cacita Mexican Restaurant in Springville City, Utah, is nothing less than profound. The message of the two hands clasping each other is that we each have a responsibility to lift each other up as we progress in life. Sometimes, we do the lifting; other times, we are the ones being lifted up. Gary is an exemplary model for that message.

Gary walks his talk. The examples are endless. But his work with the Timpanogos Nation is stellar. Gary is not only an artist; he is also an author. His book Devine Turbulence is the #1 best International Seller. As a sculptor is recognized nationally. Yet his compassion for all life, humility, and respect for others is genuine. The Timpanogs who have suffered unimaginable emotionally and physically because of Utah's Black War days, Gary has lifted them up. He understands their pain because of his personal experiences, which he describes in his book.

Today was Mary Meyer's birthday. Gary and Leesa treated Mary, members of the Timpanogos Council, friends, and supporters, a total of 15, to dinner at La Casita. It was delicious, and good conversations and good friends. It doesn't get better than this. From my heart to yours, BIG HUGS, Gary and Lessa, for being who you are!!

02/29/2024

DID YOU KNOW?

There are appromently 3000 oil wells on the Uintah Valley Reservation in Utah. According to the Depatment of Energy Records, in 2022, Utah exported over 5.324 million barrels of oil per month via pipeline.

The Ute Tribe recieves about 10% of oil revenues, and the rest goes to the oil companies and the State of Utah. The Timpanogos Nation who also lives on the Uintah Valley Reservation recieves 0% of oil revenues because they are not a federally recognized Tribe. Even though Congress recogized the Tribe in 1865, the Department of the Interior has never put them on their list.

So why hasn't the most documented Indigenous Tribe in Utah never been recogized? Follow the money!

That's my opinion. -Phillip B Gottfredson.

 

02/22/2024

Phillip B Gottfredson Makes a Guest Appearance At The Hutchings Museum

The Hutchings Museum in Lehi, Utah, is considering acquiring a 7-foot version of Gary Lee Prices statue of Timpanogos Chief Wakara. Author and Historian Phillip B Gottfredson briefly spoke, saying, "During my years of research of the Timpanogos Nation and the Black Hawk War, and all the many accounts I read, not one account ever talked about the Timpanogos version of the Black Hawk War. No account said anything about the Indigenous point of view. This, I believe, is one reason it is so important for the Hutchings Museum to have this statue of Wakara and to educate people to the true history of Utah's Black Hawk War."

Leesa Clark-Price and Ed Conder spoke eloquently to the council about the Timpanogos Wakara project and the Statue of Responsibility project.

Timpanogos council member Perry Murdock represented the Timpanogos and spoke in support of the Hutchings Museum having the statue.

Also in attendance were James Pritchett, along with his wife Karen and their grandson Kendrick. James is the great-grandson of Timponogos Chief Tabby.

02/21/2024

There are times when someone gets it right, and Signarama NAILED IT!! I am talking about the new sign I had made and installed for my Suburban. Now that's perfection!! Thank you Signarama in Orem, Utah!! Excellent customer service, they are the best!!!

 

02/08/2024

THE UINTAH OURAY RESERVATION DOES NOT EXIST

The Ute Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray agency was federally recognized in 1937, under the constitutional name "Ute Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation." Ute Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation is the Ute Nation's constitutional name, BUT THERE Is NO UINTAH OURAY RESERVATION. There has never been any congressional action that created a reservation called the "Uintah & Ouray Reservation." The Ute Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation lives on the Uintah Valley Reservation and are referred to as the Northern Ute.

Caleb B. Smith, Secretary of the Department of Interior, recommended to President Lincoln that the Uintah Valley, in the Territory of Utah, be set apart and reserved for the use and occupancy of Indian Tribes of Utah. "I respectfully recommend that you order the entire valley of the Uintah River within Utah Territory, extending on both sides of said river to the first range of contiguous mountains on each side, to be reserved to the United States and set apart as an Indian reservation," he said. President Abraham Lincoln responded, "Executive Office Oct. 3, 1861," with the President's words, "Let the reservation be established, as recommended by the Secretary of the Interior." The Uintah Valley Reservation was then enacted into law on May 5, 1864, by the Act of Congress. See Mistaken Identity of Utah's Timpanogos Nation & the Ute Tribe

NOTE: The Utah Division of Indian Affairs states on their website the following: "Three bands of Utes make up the Northern Ute tribe: the Whiteriver, Uncompahgre, and Uintah. The Uintah Band was first to call the Uintah Basin their home. Later, the Whiteriver and Uncompahgre bands were removed from Colorado to the Uintah Valley Reservation, creating the Uintah and Ouray Reservation." And... "After conflicts with the Mormons, the Utes signed the Treaty of Spanish Fork in 1865 and were forced to move to the dry Uintah Basin."

Historian Floyd O'Neil famously said, "You can't stretch a rat's ass over a rain-barrel." He explained, "No treaties were made between the Indian people of Utah and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons); 'agreements' were made between the Mormon Church and the indigenous people. At best, these agreements were divisive to trick the Indians into giving up their land," he said. See Black Hawk War Treaties

There is no U & O reservation, and no treaties! Wow! Add that the Utes relinquished any claim to land they may have had when they signed the Ute Treaty of 1868 in Colorado, and they were not sent to Utah until 1881. And even the Utah Division of Indian Affairs doesn't understand the history of the Indigenous people they represent, really?!

2/5/2024

IMPORTANT: The Fort Utah Battle Creek Canyon pages have been corrected. Over time story lines unintentionally got out of sequence as new material was added, but hopefully they are corrected now. Sorry for any inconvienance it may have caused.

 

1/22/2024

A Hand Up For The Timpanogos!!

Wait! Is that Congressman Burgess Owens Raiders Super Bowl Champ? Indeed it is, with Timpanogos Nation Chief Executive Mary Murdock Meyer! WOW!! And take a closer look; Mary is wearing Bugess's Championship ring! WOW!! WOW!! WOW!!

Yesterday was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer person than Mary Meyer, or Burgess for that matte! All thanks to Gary and Leesa Price. The room at Alchemy Foundry in Springville, Utah, was packed with amazing people, Mike Mendenhall, mayor of Spanish Fork, the honorable Judge Marla Snow, Debora Bond Heber City Council, Wakara Agular and Michele Agular, direct descendants of Timpanogos Chief Wakara, Jim Pritchett great-grandson of Timpanogos Chief Tabby and wife Karen and grandson Kendrick, representatives from Central Bank, author Phillip B Gottfredson, and the entire Tribal Council of the Timpanogos Nation.

 

Internationally renowned sculptor Gary Lee Price inspired everyone by describing the story behind his latest 7' masterpiece bronze of Timpanogos Chief Wakara.

"I call it, A New Day", said Gary. "Because this statue represents a new begining for the Timpanogos Nation." A hundred and sixty years have passed since the days of the Utah Black Hawk War when Mormon leader Brigham Young took from the Timpanogos their land, their culture, and freedom.

To the statue's left is a miniature version of Gary's Statue of Responsibility. "The Statue of Responsibility is more than a statue," Gary explained, "it is a movement. The message, two hands clasping wrists, is that we all have a responsibility to each other. Sometimes we are the hands reaching up for help, sometimes we are the hands reaching down to help. So it is no accident that the statue of Responsibility and the statue of Wakara have come togeather at the sametime. It is no accident that I met Mary when I did, or that we had the opportunity to bring the Statue of Responsibility to Utah."

Mayor Mike Mendenhall announced that he and the city of Spanish Fork have approved land and resources for the Chief Wakara statue, "Spanish Fork, I believe, is a perfect location for the Wakara statue," Mendenhall explained. Mayor Mendenhall described how Spanish Fork got its name from the early Spanish explorers Dominguez and Escalante, who camped in the area in 1776 and met the Timpanogos people. "Mary has expressed her desire to have the statue placed in Spanish Fork because she said, "the land is sacred land of our people." Please donate to the Timpanogos Wakara Statue Project

The Mayor praised Phillip B Gottfredson's book My Journey to Understand Black Hawk's Message of Peace. "If you haven't read the book you need to," said Mike Mendenhall. Phillip presented Congressman Burgess Owens with a copy of his book. Judge Snow sat beside Phillip and said, "I have read your book. My husband has read it. I bought two more for my friends," she said. "I feel deeply honored that Judge Snow and Mike like my book," said Phillip.

Timpanogos Tribal Council

 

1/10/2024

The Black Hawk Monument at Spring Lake, Utah

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 1, 2018

Let's correct racist and inaccurate Black Hawk War monuments please!

We begin by looking at each line of the above monuent below:

Monument: When the Ute Indian Chief, Black Hawk died on September 27, 1870 near Spring Lake and was buried by his tribe in a nearby ravine, there was laid to rest a man designated by Brigham Young as "The most formidable foe amongst

Fact: 1. Black Hawk was not Ute; he was Timpanogos. See Timpanogos Bio. 2. Black Hawk died at Spring Lake and was buried by his kin on a hillside above the lake on the south side. 3. The Utes were not in Utah until 1881, 8 years after the Black Hawk War ended. 4. Black Hawk was only in the war for 14 months when he was shot at Gravely Ford. He spent the last two years of his life campaigning for peace, called "Black Hawk's Mission of Peace. You don't see the settlers doing that, This monument doesn't tell us the rest of the story.

Monument: the Redman" that the pioneers had encountered in many years. These words were prompted by the memory of Chief Black Hawk's part in Utah's worst Indian war which ended in 1867. The war commenced in April 1865 at Manti, Sanpete County. Three years later, when the Indians were finally brought to terms 51 settlers had been killed and 25 settlements abandoned in 5 counties.

Fact: 1. The war may have begun for the Mormons in 1865 at Manti when drunken John Lowry pulled war Chief Jake Arapeen off his horse and beat the hell out of him. Before that date, there were over 40 bloody confrontations spanning 24 years, which began in 1848 at Battle Creek Canyon with Brigham Young's "Extermination Order." Fact: 2. There were no "Indian problems" until the whiteman came and stole their land. But the monument doesn't mention that. 3. The Timpanogos population is estimated to have been over 70,000 when the Mormons came to Utah in 1847. Brigham Young boasted, "I do not suppose there is one in ten, perhaps not one in a hundred, now alive of those who were here when we came." That being the case, the death toll of the Timpanogos was staggering. 4. Our research shows 932 documented Timpanogos deaths and 238 Whites. This does not include deaths from smallpox and starvation! The Timpanogos Tribe decreased by 90%.

Monument: The seriousness of the Indian depredations was such that during the three-year war, over 4700 men of the Territorial Militia were called into service.

Fact: 1. The "Territorial Militia" they refer to was Brigham Young's all Mormon miltia which was illegal BTW. 2. No mention of Mormon depredations that cost the Timpanogos their lives, land, and irreversable damage. See What Does the Timpanogos Version of the Black Hawk War Look Like?

Monument: Expenses incurred during the war were in excess of one and one half million dollars. Although scattered Indian raids continued into the summer of 1868, the Black Hawk War was regarded as officially closed in 1867.

Fact: 1. The cost of the war is correct according to reliable histories, however, The LDS Church billed Congress for that amount. See Memorial of the Legislative Assembly of Utah 2. As far as the war ending in 1865, according to the Native people of Utah it has never ended.

Final note: The word "Indian" is also offensive to Native Americans. They prefer Native American, Indigenous, or Tribal names such as the Timpanogos or the Paiute. "Indian" is Whiteman's term dating back to Columbus when he thought he had discovered India.

It's monuments like these that unintentionally cause divisions between our cultures, racism, and hate. We need more balanced accounts that tell both sides of the story. Research shows what people know about the Utah Black Hawk War they get from reading monuments like this one. We have a responsibility to tell the truth for future generations. Besides, remember that descendants of leaders like Black Hawk see these monuments, too. How would you feel if it was your ancestors on these monuments?

 

1/9/2024

A NEW DAY FOR THE TIMPANOGOS NATION!!

It's a new day for the Timpanogos Nation as the newly completed Bronze Statue of Chief Wakara rolls out of the Alchemy Foundry in Springville, Utah. Taking nearly a year to complete from conception to casting, renowned Sculptor Gary Lee Price has created a masterpiece of one of the seven great Chiefs of the Timpanogos Nation. And if all goes according to plan, Wakara will be installed in Spanish Fork, Utah.

Chief Wakara was the Principal Chief of the Timpanogos when Brigham Young and 134 Church of Jesus Christ members entered the Great Basin in 1847. For more information, please visit Chief Wakara.

This is the first time in 160 years since the Black Hawk War in Utah anyone has honored the Timpanogos—a heartfelt thanks to Gary Price and the Timpanogos Nation Chief Executive Mary Murdock Meyer. Hopefully, this will be a new beginning for the Timpanogos Nation.

Donate to the Timpanogos Project Chief Wakara Monument

Visit Gary Lee Price

-Phillip B Gottfredson

 

1/6/2024

Truth-out!! FAKE History!!

FACT: This is NOT Timpanogos war Chief Black Hawk, aka "Antonga." This is a photo of a Kiowa Apache called Black Hawk.

This photo is an albumen print taken in 1875 by William S. Soule, the post photographer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Smithsonian collection has provided it.

Utah's Black Hawk died in 1870 at Spring Lake, Utah. There are no known pictures of Antonga Black Hawk who was a war Chief of the Timpanogos Nation from 1865 to 1870. The Timpanogos are not Ute and never were. They are Snake-shoshonee, an entirely different Tribe in language, customs, and bloodlines.

For decades, this photo has been incorrectly labeled and widely published many times on the internet, in news articles, magazines, and books as being a Ute Chief named Antonga Black Hawk of Utah.

I wish to thank David McLaughlin for this photo and information.

 

FACT: This is not a photo of Timpanogos Chief Wakara aka Walker. It is Chief Colorow of the Colorado Ute Nation who died in 1888.

This photo, for over 20 years, has been published many times on the internet, and printed material as being Chief Wakara. Chief Wakara was the principal Chief of the Timpanogos, and died in 1855. The Ute and Timpanogos are different Tribes in bloodline, customs, and origin. The Timpanogos are not enrolled members of the Ute Tribe and never were.

1/4/2024

Celebrating the casting of Timpanogos Chief Wakara

Great day at the Alchemy foundry of sculptor Gary Lee Price in Springville, Utah, today. We all celebrated the casting of Timpanogos Chief Wakara. In the above photo, left to right, Carl Christensen Tribal Council, Ed Conder Artisan, Perry Murdock Tribal Council, Leesa Price, Mary Murdock Meyer Chief Executive of the Timpanogos Nation, Gary Price, Jim Pritchett Great Grandson of Chief Tabby, Karen Pritchett, Kendrick grandson of Jim and Karen, Phillip B Gottfredson Author Black Hawk's Mission of Peace, and Stephanie Christensen.

 

Jim Pritchett seeing for the first time the bronze casting(unfinished) of Timpanogos Chief Wakara. Wakara was a brother of Jim's great-grandfather Chief Tabby.

In the second photo are Gary's sons poring 1700 degree bronze into molds.

Following the tour of the foundry Gary and Leesa treated us to a delicious meal at the La Casita restaurant in Springville.

The statue of Wakara is the first in a series of sculptures. It has been suggested that each of the Timpanogos Chiefs be recognised and placed in different places in the state of Utah honoring the Timpanogos Nation, and provide education, which is long overdue. The Utah Black Hawk War brought irreversable damage to the Timpanogos. And though we can never undo the wrongs of the past, we can join the movment to bring healing on both sides for gerations to come. There is tremendous gratitude that the Timpanogos Nation offered their full support for this project that everyone can participate in. One city inparticular already had land donated, and financial backing.

Because this is just the begining, detailed information will be posted as progress is made.

 

12/19/2023

Website Updates

BlackHawkProductions.com has been undergoing it's annual makeover. Fixing technical glitches, and giving things a cleaner look. We sure hope you like our new look, and thank you for your patience if we have caused you any inconvienance. We're almost done. Just a few more tweeks.

Best wishes to all this holiday season !!

 

12/17/2023

NEW RESEARCH!!

Timpanogos Chiefs Wakara, Tabby, Arapeen, Sanpitch, Grospean, Ammon, and Tintic had a sister(s) !!

Stay tuned, we're gathering all the facts still.

 

12/18/2023

Timpanogos Chief Tabby's Great-grandson

Checkout our new page on Timpanogos Chief Tabby's great-grandson! This is what colonialism looks like...

James Leonard Pritchett

a great-grandson of

Chief Tabby

 

Excerpt: "Who am I, where did I come from, and what am I doing here." Leo continues his life-long quest to find the answer to those questions. He is never told the Snake-shoshonee Timpanogos are not Ute and are distinctly different Tribes in origin, blood, language, and customs. I recall vividly the conversations I had with the Ute Tribe back in 2004. Several people told me, "We are afraid to talk about those days; the church might take revenge on us." Since then, others have explained that "because the church has orders to exterminate us, we were raised to never tell anyone that we are Timpanogos; it was a matter of life or death." 

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