Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for Department of Cultural Affairs | americansforthearts.org
The Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site will host its annual commemoration of the Treaty of 1868 on June 14, 2025. This event honors the enduring strength of the Diné (Navajo) people and invites public participation.
Aaron Roth, site manager, said, "The Treaty of 1868 is not just Navajo Nation’s treaty; it is America’s treaty. It is a partnership of peace that has been worth commemorating for the last 156 years." The event will feature performances by Shawn Price (Diné) and the Dineh Tah’ Dancers, who will share stories about the treaty's historical significance and the roles of General Sherman and Colonel Samuel F. Tappan as Peace Commissioners.
Additionally, Price will present on Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Native New Deal. The Sherman House Museum/Fairfield County Heritage Association in Lancaster, Ohio, has donated muslin cloth to be given to visitors as a symbolic gift related to Article XII of the Treaty.
A new outdoor art exhibition titled "Glimpses from the Long Walk" by Shonto Begay will debut at the event. This installation features life-size cutouts based on Begay’s mural inside the Memorial’s permanent exhibit "The Long Walk." Roth expressed hope that this art would remind visitors of both the hardships faced by the Diné during their forced relocation in 1863 and their resilience upon returning home in 1868.
In recognition of the treaty, several Diné families will receive sheep from Friends of Bosque Redondo Memorial’s flock. This partnership supports wool and weaving traditions among Diné families.
The Bosque Redondo Memorial was established in 2005 and revitalized in 2021 with support from both Diné and Ndé communities. Designed by Diné architect David Sloan, it features interactive exhibits and programs for visitors. Admission fees apply except for certain groups such as children under 16, tribal affiliations, NM disabled veterans, NM foster families, Friends members, and Museum Foundation members.
Information from this article can be found here.
