by Estevan Rael-Galvez

I am writing to ask your assistance on an important project focused on a foundational and complex part of the history and experience of our region. Please pardon the long post, but for those interested in this topic, I ask you to read all the way through, particularly those with a personal connection. 

I am writing to ask for your help in gathering more STORIES, PHOTOS and OBJECTS that help illustrate this story of Native American captivity and slavery.

By way of introduction for those that may not know about my work in this field, among other positions I have had the honor of holding, I served nearly a decade as the State Historian of New Mexico. Prior to holding that position, I completed my PhD in Anthropology and History. My doctoral dissertation was entitled, “Identifying Captivity and Capturing Identity: Narratives of American Indian Slavery,” and focused on the experiences and meanings of Native American slavery and a unique legacy and identity in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. After a couple of decades serving as an administrator of cultural based organizations, I am returning to the writing of the book, building not only on the original dissertation, but on nearly 30 years of continual archival and ethnographic research.

Since returning back to New Mexico, I have also created my own consulting firm and over the past several years have worked on projects globally and nationally, though I love it most when I am close to home. I am writing today about one project in particular. I have been engaged by History Colorado to begin some exciting work toward developing a renewed vision for the Fort Garland Historic Site. One key part of this work will entail my designing and curating a new exhibit and memorial featuring this story of Native American captivity and slavery as part of their exciting focus on Borderlands. 

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The story of our region is one of astonishing complexity. It is set within a magnificent and sovereign landscape that is both ancient and modern. Its people are the heirs to unique and richly woven histories, traditions and a depth of wisdom and memories, all manifest in the physical and social landscape.

A foundational part of this story is based on the experiences of thousands of Native American women and children who were captured and held in these communities. Many of them became our ancestors and every single family and community was impacted in one way or another. This is a significant part of our legacy and yet, these stories have been quieted over the years by whispers as much as by silence, hushed aside even by those who have inherited it — carrying if not their geography in their faces and hands, certainly its memory in an aching consciousness. 

I have over the years interviewed some of your abuelos, tios and tias and as I pick this project back up, social media offers an opportunity to engage even more broadly, perhaps. Given how this story has been obscured, and in my work on this subject over the past three decades, I have realized that it is one of fragments and yet these pieces form in composite a more complete picture. 

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CHURCH RECORDS 

Over the past decades, I have also amassed a huge database of individuals who were named in church records, civil records like censuses and much more. This database is essentially thousands of interconnected family trees. I have spent years interviewing people as well and for those of you looking for information, I am happy to help you as well. 

While these captivities and their legacy span time and space, part of this project is focused on our local villages of southern Colorado, including places like San Luis, Conejos, Trinidad and all of the valley communities of Huerfano, San Luis and Las Animas Counties.

Church records, including baptisms, marriages, death are revealing of how individuals were ritually incorporated into these communities and a couple of samples are illustrative:

• In 1862, a 5-year-old Navajo child was baptized with the name MARIA DOLORES in Conejos to Vicente Sanchez and Maria Juana Vigil

• At her marriage in 1880 in Costilla, NM to Jose Marcelino Valdez, MARIA RITA ESQUIBEL is still noted as “india de Juan Esquibel”

• In 1878, 15-year-old Indian JOSE FRANCISCO is listed in the Walsenburg burial records, still being listed as a servant of Manuel Gonzales.

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CENSUS RECORDS 

Census records are also revealing and I have looked at every single census record for NM and CO documenting this. Here are some few examples of the many I have from Colorado census records:

• JOSE GREGORIO, a 25-year-old Indian servant is listed in the 1860 census in Conejos in the household of Jesus Maria Olguin and Maria Ramona Valdez

• MARIA ANTONIA is enumerated in the 1870 Census in San Luis de la Culebra as a 12-year old domestic servant in the family of Narciso Gallegos and Rafaela.

• JOSE ANTONIO is listed in the in the Valley of Apishapa River, as an 8-year-old Indian herding cows in the family of A. J. Archuleta. 

• RITA, a 12-year old Indian and LIBRADA, an 11-year-old Indian are listed in the 1870 Census of Cucharas in the household of Louis Marie Cabeza de Baca. 

• FRANCISCO, an 18-year old Indian servant, is listed in the 1880 census of San Acacio in the household of Luciano Lucero and Francisca Martinez

• EUSTACIO, a 29 Indian servant is listed in the 1880 census in Trinidad in the household of Antonio Padilla 

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LAFAYETTE HEAD LISTS

In 1865, in an effort to end the practice of capturing and enslaving Native Americans in the mid 19th century, an even more targeted and focused census was created in July of 1865 documenting the enslavement of 149 individuals in Costilla and Conejos Counties. In my dissertation I fully examine these lists and its larger context in tremendous detail. The enumerated included 149 individuals across both Costilla and Conejos Counties. What follows is this enumeration for both Costilla and Conejos Counties. While the lists have amazing data, which I have greatly augmented over the years with extensive research, including genealogies. I have only listed their names, age, identified tribal affiliations and the name of their owner below, but may be helpful for folks.. 

COSTILLA COUNTY

• Rita, 10 year old Navajo in the household of Teodoro Maes;

• Juan Tomas, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Teodoro Maes

• Juan Bautista, 4 year old Navajo in the home of Teodoro Maes; 

• Guadalupe, a 10-year-old Navajo in the household of Juan Andres Manzanares;

• Resiona, a 20-year old Navajo in the household of Joseph Bourcy and Maria Agustina Arellano;

• Leonor, a 10-year old Navajo in the household of J. Santos Maes

• Antonia, a 20-year old Navajo in the household of Benito Maes

• Margarita, a 15-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Trujillo

• Maria Antonia, a 14-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Trujillo

• Maria Refugio, a 20-year old Navajo in the household of Pedro Duran

• Juan Miguel, a 12-year old Ute in the household of Pedro Duran

• Juana Maria, a 17-year old Navajo in the household of Mariano Pacheco

• Maria Guadalupe, a 30-year old Navajo in the household of Amador Sanchez

• Maria Lucia, an 8-year old Ute in the household of Amador Sanchez

• Pablo, a 7-year old Ute in the household of Juan M. Vigil

• Juan Antonio, an 8-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Miguel Vigil

• Juliana, a 12-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Miguel Vigil

• Nicolas, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Sanchez

• Dolores, a 10-year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Sanchez

• Maria Alcaria, a 11-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Guadalupe Vallejos (widow of Juan Angel Vigil)

• Juan Antonio, a 6-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Guadalupe Vallejos (widown of Juan Angel Vigil)

• Maria Paula, a 14-year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Vallejos

• Pedro, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Jose W. Jacques

• Maria, a 40-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Dolores Vallejos (widow of Ricardo de Jesus Vigil)

• Maria Rosario, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Dolores Vallejos (widow of Ricardo de Jesus Vigil)

• Francisco Antonio, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Tomas Vigil

• Jose Antonio, a 9-year old Navajo in the household of Maria Dolores Vallejos (widow of Ricardo de Jesus Vigil)

• Margarita, a 16-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Cordova

• Cayetana, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Cordova

• Juan Jose, an 8-year old Navajo in the household of Juan Cordova

• Miguel, a 4-year old Apache in the household of Juan Montoya

• Antonio, a 7-year old Navajo in the household of Topolo Trujillo

• Piedad, a 10-year old Navajo in the household of Topolo Trujillo

• Macaria, a 6-year old Navajo in the household of Julian Lucero

• Maria Louisa, a 35-year old Navajo in the household of Juan J. Esquibel 

• Carmel, a 14-year old Navajo in the household of Jose R. Esquibel

• Jose Rafael, an 11-year old Ute in the household of Vicente Chavez

• Margarita, a 12-year old Navajo in the household of Jose A. Martinez

• Dolores, a 15-year old Navajo in the household of Antonio Vallejos

• Josepha, an 8-year old Navajo in the household of Miguel J. K. Vallejos

• Felipe, an 8-year old Navajo in the household of Miguel J. K. Vallejos

• Hilario, an 4-year old Navajo in the household of Antonio J. Martin

• Juan Felipe Gonzales, 12-year-old Navajo in the household of Desiderio Gonzales and Tomasa Madril

• Rosalia Vallejos, 18-year-old Navajo in the household of Jose Maria Vallejos and Maria Louisa Archuleta

• Guadalupe Martinez, 18-year-old Navajo in the household of Antonio J. Martinez and Maria Sefarina Martinez

• Antonio, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Damacio Sanchez

• Dominga, 25 year old Navajo in the household of Tomas T. Tobin

• Margarita, 16 year old in the household of Faustin Medina

• Guadalupe, 50 year old Navajo in the household of Buenaventura Medina

• Maria Antonia Quintana, 20-year-old Navajo in the household of Vicente Quintana and Maria Rita Martinez.

• Maria, 30-year-old Navajo in the household of Maria P. Padilla 

• Lupita, 11-year-old Ute in the household of Maria P. Padilla

• Jose Antonio, 12-year-old Ute in the household of Maria P. Padilla.

• Catalina, 17-year-old Navajo in the household of Maria P. Padilla

• Maria Tomas, 30-year-old Ute in the household of Pedro Manzanares and Isabel Martinez

• Miguel, 8-year-old Navajo in the household of Juan M. Madrid

• Juan del Carmel, 6-year-old Ute, in the household of Phelipe Gonzales and Maria Dolores Vigil

• Juliana, 6-year-old Navajo in the household of Phelipe Gonzales and Maria Dolores Vigil

• Maria Dolores, 11-year-old in the household of Abaristo Gonzales and Ursula Chalifoux. 

​CONEJOS COUNTY

• Jose Antonio, a 6 year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Estevan Aragon

• Agapita, 18 year old Navajo in the household of Pedro Aragon. 

• Maria Dolores, 10 year old Ute in the household of Manuel Archuleta

• Guadalupe, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Manuel Archuleta

• Rafaela, 25 year old Navajo in the household of Hilario Atencio

• Juan Quaro, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Hilario Atencio

• Jose Antonio, 11 year old Navajo in the household of Hilario Atencio

• Madelina, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Buenaventura Borrego

• Francisco Antonio, 4 year old Navajo in the household of Miguel Casias

• Juana, 4 year old Navajo in the household of Miguel Casias

• Dolores, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Gabriel Chacon

• Juliana, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Bautista Chacon

• Antonia Rosa, 16 year old Ute in the household of Rafael Chavez

• Guadalupe, 4 year old Ute in the household of Antonio Jose Chavez

• Maria Rosalia, 4 year old Navajo in the household of Antonio Jose Chavez

• Guadalupe, 16 year old PahUte in the household of JM Chavez

• Librada, 4 year old Navajo in the household of JM Chavez

• Maria J. de Gracia, 60 year old Navajo in the household of V. Chavez

• Juan, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Jesus Maria Cordova

• Ramon, 13 year old Navajo in the household of Domingo Diego Antonio

• Maria Mta, 12 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Victor Garcia

• Maria Gertrudes, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Victor Garcia

• Jose Antonio, 10 year old Ute in the household of Jose Victor Garcia

• Guadalupe, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Pedro Garcia

• Rita, 9 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Serafin Garcia

• Jose Antonio, 4 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Gomez

• Maria Cuaran, 7 year old Navajo in the household of J.L. Jacon

• Maria Reyes, 15 year old Pah Ute in the household of Jose Maria Jaquez

• Cayetano, 4 year old Ute in the household of Jose Maria Jaquez

• Ramon, 12 year old Navajo in the household of J. Francisco Jaramillo

• Guadalupe, 15 year old Navajo in the household of A.J. Lobato

• Polito, 9 year old Ute in the household of A.J. Lobato

• Catalina, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Policarpio Lobato

• Jose Maria, 5 year old Ute in the household of Ramon Lopez

• Miguel, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Manuel Lucero

• Guadalupe, 38 year old PaiUte in the household of Antonio Domingo Lucero

• Dolores, 12 year old Navajo in the household of Delos Lucero

• Refugio, 18 year old Navajo in the household of Gabriel Lucero

• Guadalupe, 6 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Lucero

• Maria Guadalupe, 5 year old Navajo in the household of Maria Encarnacion Lucero

• Jose Rafael, a 3 year old Ute in the household of Jose Fr. Lucero

• Maria Benina, 15 year old Ute in the household of Jose Maria Lucero

• Ana Maria, 14 year old Ute in the household of Juan Ysidro Lucero

• Maria Escolastica, 16 year old Navajo in the household of Juan Ysidro Lucero

• Juliana, 12 year old Apache in the household of Felipe Martin

• Dolores,10 year old Navajo in the household of Miguel Antonio Martin

• Rita, 45 year old Navajo in the household of J.M. Martin

• Maria Antonia, 16 year old Ute in the household of Joseviano Martinez

• Estefana, 11 year old Ute in the household of Joseviano Martinez

• Margarita, 18 year old Navajo in the household of J.G. Martinez

• Serafina, 28 year old Navajo in the household of Querino Maes

• Gregorio, 18 year old Navajo in the household of Querino Maes

• Jose, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Querino Maes

• Rafael, 15 year old Navajo in the household of Q. Maes

• Guadalupe, 11 year old Navajo in the household of N. Montoya

• Catalina, 35 year old Navajo in the household of Guadalupe Olguin

• Guadalupe, 20 year old Navajo in the household of Martin de Jesus Rodriguez

• Ma. Guadalupe, 10 year old Ute in the household of Ml. Romero

• Rosalia, 19 year old Navajo in the household of Ml. Romero

• Rosaila, 6 year old Navajo in the household of G. Ruiz

• Lorenza, 9 year old Navajo in the household of Salvador Salazar

• Juan, 7 year old Navajo in the household of Salvador Salazar

• Trinidad, 10 year old Navajo in the household of Miguel A. Salazar

• Guadalupe, 17 year old Navajo in the household of Francisco Salazar

• Juana, 5 year old Navajo, in the household of Francisco Salazar

• Guadalupe, 25 year old Navajo in the household of Cresencio Sisneros

• Jose Maria, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Chepito Sisneros

• Jose Sino, 5 year old Pah Ute in the household of Antonio Sisneros

• Encarnacion, 16 year old Navajo in the household of M.M. Sisneros

• Juan, 11 year old Navajo in the household of Manuel Trujillo

• Gertrudes, 8 year old Navajo in the household of Jose Trujillo

• Maria Guadalupe, 52 year old California in the household of S. Trujillo

• Felimena, 14 year old Navajo in the household of S. Trujillo

• Nestor, 12 year old Navajo in the household of S. Trujillo

• Gertrudes, 24 year old Pah Ute in the household of Seldonio Valdez

• Paula, 11 year old Pah Ute in the household of Seledonio Valdez

• Luis, 9 year old Half Breed in the household of Seledonio Valdez

• Rafaela, 10 year old Navajo in the household of J.M. Valdez

• Ma. Antonia, 12 year old Navajo in the household of Jesus Valdez

• Catalina, 24 year old Navajo in the household of J.Ma. Velasquez

• Vicente, 4 year old Ute in the household of J.T. Vigil

• Lucas, 4 year old Ute in the household of J de J Vigil

• Maria Rosalia, 5 year old Navajo in the household of F. Vigil

• Juliana, 22 year old Navajo in the household of J. Maria Vigil

• Lucas, 18 year old Navajo in the household of J. Maria Vigil

• Catalina, 19 year old Ute in the household of James B. Woodson

• Gabriel, 12 year old Navajo in the household of James B. Woodson

• Andres, 10 year old Navajo in the household of James B. Woodson

This list was consciously left incomplete by the enumerator at the time, since he too was complicit in the practice.

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There are many more lives that I have researched in the region, but I thought I would start here with these glimpses. So while I have talked to some of you over the many years, others may have new stories, memories and more that you would be willing to share. 

Thank you.