Ethnographic Overview And Assessment: Zion National Park, Utah ...

Time Period
Encroachment
European and
Euroamerican Activities
Southern Paiute Response
1750+ -
1855+
Raids and epidemic diseases heighten
Spanish-Mexican demand for
Southern Paiute fear of sorcery. Raiding
Native American slaves and
for children compounds selective mortality
servants stimulated Ute mounted
during contagious disease epidemics and
slave raids.
accelerates depopulation.
1826 - 1846
Trappers and traders travel
through Southern Paiute
territory, especially along the
Virgin River.
Southern Paiutes are driven away from key
rivers and crucial springs. Native
American intergroup trade and transmission of
disease continues. Slave raiding by Utes and
New Mexicans peaks.
1847 - 1862
Members of the Church of Jesus
Many new diseases are transmitted directly to
Christ of Latter Day Saints
Southern Paiutes and their neighbors
(Mormons) colonize the area and
and cause up to 75 percent loss in local
occupy environmentally key
populations. Southern Paiutes experience major
irrigable lands and domestic
cultural, social, and economic disruption.
waters.
1863 - 1873
Mountain miners colonize
remaining spring oases.
Southern Paiutes form labor gangs and depend
on employment at mine towns, farms, ranches,
and ferries. Southern Paiute political
organization breaks down as Euroamericans
interact with labor gangs and treat labor
contractors as "chief." Southern Paiutes adopt
Euroamerican clothing and foods.
Lost Time
1874 - 1900
Euroamericans gain political
power.
Southern Paiutes are left out of reservation
system. A generation matures working in labor
gangs with little or no formal education in either
U.S. schools or Southern Paiute traditions.
Northern labor gangs migrate to low-altitude
river systems.
17