Chronology of American Indian History

P

1677

May 29

The Powhatan tribes negotiate a peace
treaty with Virginia.
As Bacon’s Rebellion is quelled (see entry for SPRING
1676), the Treaty of Middle Plantation is signed by
Virginia authorities and leaders of the Pamunkey,
Weanock, Appamatuck, and Nansemond tribes.
Unlike most treaties of the time, the agreement at-
tempts to be fair to both sides. It names the Indians as
subjects of the British Crown but grants each tribe a
reservation surrounded by a three-mile buffer area in
which whites are prohibited from settling. It also de-
clares that Cockacoeske, the leader of the Pamunkey
(see entry for SUMMER 1676), will rule over “several
scattered Indians,” a clause she vigorously lobbied
the English to include. These “scattered Indians”
included the Chickahominy, who resent and resist
Cockacoeske’s leadership. Until her death in 1686,
she will try (with little success) to bully the Chicka-
hominy into paying her tribute.

1680

April 17

Kateri Tekakwitha dies at the
Kahnawake mission.
After years of severe fasting and self-flagellation, Mo-
hawk nun Kateri Tekakwitha dies during Holy Week,
at the age of 24. Against the wishes of her relatives,
Tekakwitha converted to Catholicism in 1676. Her
devotion to her new religion bred such contempt in
her people that, fearing for her life, she soon had to flee
from her home village and seek refuge at the mission
in Kahnawake, a settlement of Christian Mohawk.
During her lifetime, the Jesuits at the mission were
disturbed by Tekakwitha’s penchant for self-torture,
but after her death they will celebrate her devoutness
as a model for other Indian converts. Through the lob-
bying of the Jesuits, in the 20th century Tekakwitha
will be declared venerable and blessed by the Roman

Catholic Church (see entries for 1939; MAY 19, 1939;

and JUNE 22, 1980).

August 10 to 21

Popé leads the Pueblo Revolt.

A war leader named Popé unifies the Pueblo in a care-

fully planned rebellion against the Spaniards in their

territory. Before attacking the Europeans, the rebels

tell the Spanish to leave. The Pueblo allow settlers

who do so voluntarily to escape with their lives, but

the Indians seize all of their property. As the north-

ern Pueblo attack the Spanish capital of Santa Fe,

the Hopi, Acoma, and Zuni set upon the settlers and

missionaries near their villages. During the conflict,

about 400 Spaniards are killed. The rebels also set the

Spaniards’ churches and houses on fire and destroy

every object the Pueblo identify as Spanish.

“[Popé proclaimed] that we

should burn all the images and

temples, rosaries and cross and

that all the people should dis-

card the names given them in

holy baptism.... [We] were not

to mention in any manner the

name of God, of the... Virgin,

or of the Saints... [and were]

not to teach the Castilian lan-

guage in any pueblo and to burn

the seeds which the Spaniards

sowed and to plant only [corn]

and beans, which are the crops

of our ancestors.”

—Tesuque Indian Juan on the

Pueblo Revolt of 1680

Although Popé’s revolt is the most successful

Indian uprising ever staged, the Pueblo’s unifica-

tion does not last long. Popé alienates many of his