1. Walkara had a reputation as a diplomat, horseman and warrior, and a military leader of raiding parties in Wakara's War.
25 Facts About Walkara
1. 2.
Walkara was the most prominent Native American chief in the Utah area when the Mormon Pioneers arrived in 1847.
3.
Walkara is a good trader, trafficking with the whites and reselling goods to such of his nation as are less skillful in striking a bargain.
4.
Walkara is often referred to as Ute, but this is incorrect.
5.
Walkara is Shoshone and his name, Walkara, means Hawk, in Shoshone.
6.
Walkara was born approximately 1808 along the Spanish Fork River in Utah.
7.
Walkara was one of the five sons of a chief of the Timpanogos Tribe.
8.
Walkara spent much time fishing along the Utah Lake shores in what is Provo and Vineyard.
9.
Walkara gathered a raiding band of warriors from Great Basin tribes, Ute, Paiute and Shoshone, and often rode with his brothers on raids.
10.
Walkara's band raided ranches and attacked travelers in the Great Basin and along the Old Spanish Trail between New Mexico and California.
11.
Walkara was often distinguished by the yellow face paint that he wore.
12.
Mountain men James Beckwourth and Thomas "Pegleg" Smith were involved in this campaign and were known to trade with Walkara, providing the band with whiskey in return for horses.
13.
Walkara recognized that trading with the settlers would enable his band to become more powerful.
14.
However, the Ute were angered by the Mormons building a permanent settlement in the area, and Walkara favored driving them out by force.
15.
In 1850, Walkara agreed to be baptized into the LDS Church with his son.
16.
Walkara regularly traded women and children as slaves in order to trade for horses, guns, and ammunition.
17.
Walkara's raiding lifestyle was under pressure from an increasing number of federal troops in the Great Basin and Southwest and from the expansion of Latter-day Saint settlements.
18.
Walkara's people began to heavily guard the travel routes between Mormon settlements.
19.
The Walker War ended through this understanding personally negotiated between Young and Walkara that was finalized in May 1854 in Levan, near Nephi, Utah.
20.
Walkara died of "lung fever" on 29 January 1855 at Meadow Creek, Utah.
21.
Walkara supposedly was involved with the slave trade in the Great Basin.
22.
In 1906, Susa Young Gates accused Walkara of kidnapping Brigham Young's daughter, Sally Young Kanosh.
23.
Walkara was said to have been involved in human sacrifice.
24.
Walkara died after a lingering illness, possibly pneumonia, on January 28,1855, while at Meadow Creek, Utah Territory.
25.
Walkara had a letter from Brigham Young in his hand.