God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. – Psalm 49:15
The United States signed the Box Elder Treaty with the Northwestern Shoshone tribe on this day in 1863. The Shoshone had regularly attacked the settlers who followed the California and Oregon Trails and invaded the Indian territory. The 3rd California Volunteers executed 15 Shoshone in retaliation for a raid on a wagon train. Violence continued to escalate until the U.S. military fiercely attacked the tribe, killing several hundred Indians and then raping and attacking the survivors. This action prompted many local tribes to accept a treaty with the federal government, brokering the Box Elder Treaty to facilitate peaceable relations. In the treaty, the U.S. government also promised to pay the Shoshone $5,000 yearly for the “utter destitution” they brought to the tribe. However, the U.S. government never did pay the promised money.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For U.S. officials in the Bureau of Indian Affairs as they seek to support tribal nations.
- For Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland as she collaborates with tribal leaders.
